“THE DROP” (2014) MOVIE REVIEW
This film should have been nicely called “A LONELY MAN and his PIT BULL”.
It would be an apt tribute, but one might be swayed to think that it’s a Disney production, good grief.
“THE DROP” has, within its finer wrapping, an ingenious plot, exacting powerful performances from actors TOM HARDY and the late JAMES GANDOLFINI who died of a cardiac arrest months after shooting wrapped.
“THE DROP” would be his farewell piece.
To this Reviewer, he rates this film as a smart “thinking” crime story.
The script ambles with a steady burn at first, a slow but surely shimmer before you are drawn rapturously into the long haul.
Quick Synopsis:
THE DROP is a new crime drama from Michaël R. Roskam, the Academy Award nominated director of Bullhead.
Based on an awesome screenplay from Dennis Lehane (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone), “THE DROP” follows lonely bartender Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) through a covert scheme of funneling cash to local gangsters – “money drops” in the underworld of Brooklyn bars.
“THE DROP’s ensemble cast includes Noomi Rapace, Matthias Schoenaerts, Ann Dowd and John Ortiz.
From start to end of this crime thriller, you are made to feel that circumstances are not what they appear to be.
The plot ambles mysteriously in a dogged style that is both cold and chilling.
“THE DROP” introduces us to Bob (Tom Hardy), an unambitious slow-witted bartender who is content to toil for his cousin Marv (James Gandolfini) in a bar named Cousin Marv’s.
It is a small drinking hole, but this is what you only see from the facade.
Cousin Marv’s is also as a notorious “drop bar” where dirty money is “dropped” at the counter and specified people will pick up the “haul” later.
This is an urban thriller following the style of Sidney Lumet and other crime busters of his time.
The performances are soul-searching to match the overall doom-and-gloom mood of the cinematography.
“THE DROP” can be said to be layered with a dark tinge of poetic indulgence.
In his final screen appearance, James Gandolfini plays Marv, a Brooklyn bar manager who has to give up ownership of his bar to Chechen gangsters.
The crooks use the work venue as a “drop” off location for laundering money.
Marv may appear cool, calm and collected, but is one helluva guy capable of violence when he is in a rage. His sidekick is Bob (Tom Hardy), the bartender with the slow slur.
One fateful night a pair of shotgun-wielding masked robbers raided the bar and scooted off with US$5,000.
Even though the amount of money is little compared to the usual drop-bar night, the Chechen mob who actually owned the bar is pissed.
As the story progresses, Bob rescues an injured pit bull pup in a garbage can which belongs to a woman named Nadia (Noomi Rapace).
Both of them become firm friends, and Bob soon discovers that that the pit-bull pup is actually dumped by Nadia’s psychotic ex-boyfriend Eric Deeds (Matthias Schoenaerts).
A brilliant young Flemish director Roskam was identified as a talent to watch by Michael Mamn after his debut feature, Bullhead, was chosen as Belgium’s Oscar candidate.
“THE DROP” is his first English language film.
His treatment is liken to boarding a cool, deadpan roller-coaster ride to hell.
Go watch it!
RATING: 3.5 out of 5
Local Distributor: 20th Century Fox Malaysia
“DEAD MAN DOWN” PRESS PREVIEW
Along the seedy streets of New York by night, spins a dark tale of murderous intents.
A professional hitman is on his deadly prowl to follow shooting instructions.
A desolate woman, her face badly scarred from a horrific accident, is adjusting to a life of emotional torment.
Both share the same agenda: justifiable payback to the bad ones who had done them wrong.
This is a neo-noir revenge thriller helmed by renowned Danish director NIELS ARDEN OPLEV in his American debut set in metropolitan New York.
COLIN FARRELL plays Victor, an unhappy albeit sullen enforcer who’s working his way up his boss Alphonse’s (TERRENCE HOWARD) crime empire. Everything is not what it seems as he is quietly plotting revenge against this crime lord for the deaths of his wife and young daughter years earlier.
Unfortunately, his clandestine activities are espied by Beatrice (NOOMI RAPACE), the mysterious woman living across his apartment. As a bargain to keep her mouth shut, Beatrice insists that Victor performs a killing for her : to get rid of the drunken driver who had ruined her life and had been acquitted scot-free by the law.
Film director OPLEV’s treatment boasts a fine dash of European flavor, using taut and well framed shots. It is smart, entertaining and gripping.
All of which is a refreshing change from the usual Hollywood film, where diversity means pairing the hero with a black buddy.
At the end of the press screening, a fellow reviewer remarked:
“Thank God that the movie is not directed by an American director.”
I asked why?
“Because it is a refreshing change from the predictable American movie and I enjoyed this one immensely.”
The bottom line:
“DEAD MAN DOWN” is a take-off on the classic film noir that has action galore, suspense and maybe a doomed love story.
The movie poses an adrenaline tease, so go watch it armed with a suspension of disbelief.
You will be assured of the thrill of a pulsating ride.
Right.
