Blood has a starring role in The Drop. There’s literal bleeding befitting a story by famed crime writer Dennis Lehane: a dog bloodied by a beating, a robbery victim’s head split open, and more ominously, a suspect tortured by a ruthless Brooklyn-based Chechen gang. Then there’s the blood that runs deep: between family, the rush of new love, the blood of Christ in a fallen communicant, and the price of blood money.

All these bloody images and themes run through the movie from beginning to end giving it an edge-of-your-seat tension despite the slow pacing and deliberate storytelling that patiently introduces each character – living and dead, human and animal – into the plot. You can literally feel your blood pressure rising as each scene unfolds, knowing that something isn’t adding up and someone’s going to get hurt. But who?

“Now you listen," says Bob, the bartender at his cousin Marv’s dive bar to a would-be robber. The yarn he unspools near the movie’s end is cold-blooded revenge. It’s shocking and releasing at the same time. Bloodletting, as the ancients knew, purges both saints and sinners. The Drop is one of my favorite films and bears repeated viewings. It has a great cast, outstanding cinematography, and gripping tale that says sometimes good and evil isn’t black and white - it’s blood red.

If you like those deep Boston Irish underbelly dirty mob type movies then you'll like this one. I'm discovering so many great movies that Hollywood never told me about. And now more than ever they're keeping good movies that doesn't fit their PC culture too well. Another is called The Gentleman with, Mathew McConaughey, Brian Hunnam and Directed by Guy Richie. Anyway, if you have any streaming apps like Prime or Hulu surf around. Don't allow the fact that you've never heard of it to persuade you into thinking it must not be any good bc today if you've never heard of it probably means certain people didn't want you to hear of it. It may have too much Toxic Masculinity, Violence, Sex between a man and women. Read reviews and comments about the movie. I've found that they are the most knowledgeable on the movie.

FIrst, the acting is tremendous. Tom Hardy has to be the most underrated actor of our generation. James Gandolfini, in his last role, is perfectly cast as a tough guy bar owner playing with fire. Gandolfini would have stolen every scene from a lesser actor than Hardy, but they play off each other very well. Noomi Rapace is 100% believable in every scene she's in, vulnerable but smart in a New York way, making for a perfect trio of main characters.

The writing....oh, the writing! "The Drop" is sharp and believable, delivered in a style reminiscent of walking into the surf, getting neck deep and realizing the tide is twisting and dangerous. The deeper the movie goes the more the tension rises to the point that I rewatched the final 20 minutes of the movie three times, simply to admire the climax of great acting and screenwriting. "The Drop" doesn't miss a beat, never drops the ball and never lets you down. An easy "5-stars" from me.

You will question who is the good guy or bad guy. Can "bad guys" receive forgiveness or feel guilt?

Viewing it the first time, the ending climax scene anticipation is the most interesting part of the film and intense; the second time, all the other scenes that felt mundane watching the first time becomes the most interesting parts. It's very interesting how human perception changes just like that.

No one ever sees it coming... This is a true statement for everyone.

If you expect fast paced action/car crashes/lots of shooting, you will be disappointed. If you're into analyzing character behavior/psychology, you will love it.

There's many subtle clues in this film, even in the way the character's act/eye movement/delivery, that viewing it the first time would seem unimportant or go right by you, but it's very intriguing when you see the significance the second time.

Dennis Lehane is also the author for Shutter Island and this film, what was originally a short story (so you can kind of tell they had to stretch the film bit and is slow-paced in the beginning); both are very interesting character study stories and makes viewing the second time a whole new experience.

Great performances by all the cast.

I bought this because I heard the ending is worth watching; the build-up anticipation is definitely there and then you realize the puzzle - and the clues were throughout the film; there is no way one would realize the subtle meanings unless they watch it the second time; without giving too much away, like the very beginning scene is quite significant clue that would seem very mundane or just a fill-in viewing it the first time.

While initially, the film seems very straight-forward and not much happens, but there are many many subtle clues throughout the film and mannerism. Watch it the second time and you will definitely see things differently.

There is no way anyone would see the twist coming. If you love smart dialogue crime and into dissecting characters, watch it. It's DEFINITELY worth watching a second time.

Those looking for a conventional crime thriller should look elsewhere because "The Drop" is more character study than mystery. One has to follow the deliberate pace of the film to reap the maximum rewards. This film has one of the best ensembles of any film released last year. The setting is the rough streets of Brooklyn where if you aren't tough you must have the pretense of toughness just to survive. Chechen gangsters run the rackets and use the taprooms to deposit the receipts from their illegal operations. The bar employees don't know which night the drop is going to happen until it actually does. At closing time on the night of the drop at Cousin Marv's the bar is held up by two armed gunmen which sets off a chain of events that resonates. It's secondary as to the identity of the stickup men and who their collaboraors are. Foremost this is a film about complex personalities none more so than Bob (Tom Hardy), the bartender at Cousin Marv's. Bob at first strikes you as a simple gentle guy but as the film unfolds darker shadings start to emerge which can be explained as survival instincts. Marv (James Gandolfini) seems to be a disagreeable sort but even he has good qualities such as a devotion to his dying father. There's a mysterious quality to Nadia (Noomi Rapace) the waitress with an ambiguous past who Bob takes a shine to. Then there's Eric (Matthias Schoenaerts), a local psychotic who may talk a good game but is probably full of bluster. Most impressive is Hardy who gave two of last year's best performances in this film and "Locke". Hardy knows how to dial it down and capture the soul of the characters he plays and mesmerize an audience. Schoenaerts is no less impressive and his tension filled confrontations with Hardy literally suck the air out of the room. It's fitting that this was Gandolfini's last film because it is a piece with the gritty work he is best known for.

This is an interesting well produced movie with top notch acting, writing, and directing. Both James Gandolfini and Tom Hard are playing very different characters from what we're used to seeing them create and its a wonderful sight. Add Noomi Rapace (Sp?) to the mix and "WOW", you get to watch artists at the top of their game. You think you know where the movie is headed but, in the end, "...you know nothing Jon Snow...". I bought this film over a year ago and it remains one of my staples when I just want to sit back and enjoy a good movie...it hits the mark for me every time. I always notice something new each time I watch it, which is the sign of a good movie, to my mind anyway.

The Drop is a place designated by the mob where money from criminal activities is "dropped off". That's all you need to know for now. Its nice when a movie surprises you with some unexpected turns. Enjoy how the movie unfolds, I surely did. This one is not for kids.

I recently 'discovered' Tom Hardy as an amazing actor, so I searched other movies and found this unassuming gem. I hesitated because "The Drop" didn't seem to be that exciting.
I an happy to report that I was very wrong. I will say that if you're looking for a non stop action-thriller-car chase-fighting-shoot-em-up , this is NOT it. This is a slow burn to the action.
Hardy portrays an unassuming bartender, Bob, at a mob owned local bar in Brooklyn. He's from the neighborhood. Some reviewers say they thought Bob was 'slow' , borderline mentally challenged. He seems to be unaware of the violence all around him, and this film does a great job of conveying a steady undercurrent of danger. The bar was once owned by Bob's cousin Marv ( James Gandalfini), but was taken over by the mob over a decade earlier. The bar is used a drop,a bank for illegal money for the mob.
A robbery at the bar, an abused puppy, and uncontrolled greed are woven into the story. There's also a story of a young man who disappeared from the bar, and the thug who claims to have killed him.
While Bob seems to be just a nice guy who 'just tends bar', and rescues abused puppies, there are glimpses of a darker side. When a bag of cash and a severed arm are found at the bar, Bob takes the arm in the back and very matter of factly wraps it in butcher paper and plastic wrap . Cousin Marv remarks that it looks like Bob has done that a thousand times.
Bob also goes to mass every day, but never takes communion, as we discover from Detective Torres (John Ortiz) who also attends mass regularly, and responds to the robbery call at the bar. Torres asks why he never takes communion, but never gets and answer.
When the bar is chosen as The Drop spot on Superbowl Sunday, a crescendo of violence erupts. I realized I was on the edge of my seat, mouth open...whaat the what?
There are some great lines delivered in this movie, but one of the best is from Detective Torres, who after weeks of investigating is asking Bob a few questions about a murder, which Bob calls a carjacking gone horribly wrong. Torres replies incredulously "It was an execution!" He leans over and says " No one ever sees you coming, do they Bob?"
I tried not to give too much away. This is a violent movie, you are warned. If you like more cerebral movies, you will love The Drop. It's one of my favs now!

I like movie to make me feel like I'm somewhat "involved" with something in it. This one does that with the main character thanks to Hardy's outstanding portrayal. Solid performances across the board, kept me engaged even though it is not a fast paced storyline . Actually watching it again right now ! :)