THE DROP
US, 2014, 106 minutes, Colour.
Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfi, Matthias Schoenaerts, John Ortiz.
Directed by Michael R. Raskam.
The Drop has a screenplay by Dennis Lehane, whose novels, Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone, Shutter Island, have been made into significant and powerful films by Clint Eastwood, Ben Affleck and Martin Scorsese. This film has been directed by the Belgian, Michael R. Raskam.
Early in the film, there is an explanation of money collection in Brooklyn, the Italian standover thugs having been replaced by migrants from Chechnya, still keeping up the tradition of violence and brutality. Money is collected from various enterprises, put in small brown paper bags, covered with newspaper, and taken to various bars in Brooklyn and quietly dropped into a concealed safe. The gangsters have a random choice of bars so that any robberies will not be anticipated. The money is collected in the early hours of the morning.
The audience finds itself in a particular bar, managed by Marv (the final performance by James Gandolfini, reprising similarities to his role as Tony Soprano but this time, something of a failure, desperate for a last chance). Behind the bar is his cousin, Bob, who has worked with Marv for many years. The bar is generally busy, has its regulars like a group toasting a dead friend or Millie, who Marv once thrown out until she pays her bills but Bob, he is that kind of person, pays for her drinks.
Bob is the central character for the film. He is played by Tom Hardy who has proven himself a significant actor over the years, an actor who can take on a variety of roles and whose facial expressions, body language, communicate with subtlety the inner life of his characters. He was the brutal Bronson, one of the moonshine brothers in Lawless, significant in Inception, the villain in The Dark Night Rises.
One night, masked robbers steal the money and the Chechens are not very happy. There is a twist in discovering who organised the robbery and the consequences for the robbers, one being run over, the other being set up for a big robbery, on the night of the drop. This character, Eric, is played by the Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts who was the star of Michael R.Raskam’s Bullhead. He also appeared effectively in Rust and Bone, a good actor who can bring the sinister to his roles. The other central character is Nadia, (Noomi Rapace,The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Eric’s former girlfriend and now a friend of Bob, especially when a pitbull terrier has been bashed by Eric and put in the garbage, Bob hearing it as he passes by and rescues it. (The name of Denis Lehane’s short story is Animal Rescue.)
The dog is important for the film, appealing to ob’s warm instincts, his treating it, is Marv taunts him, like his child. Nadia is happy to help with the dog.
These are all elements that commentators make explicit on the film – but it is interesting that no one talks about the role of the Catholic Church in Bob’s life. It is interesting that Denis Lehane has introduced these elements and that the director has portrayed the contemporary church and its liturgy quite accurately as well as some of the controversial issues of the time. Bob goes to Mass every day but does not go to Communion. He sits in the church, prays, one day the priest letting him in early. In the church there is a statue of St Roch, St Rocco, with his dog – which means that Bob’s dog is given the name of Rocco. The detective (John Ortiz) investigating the robbery and other crimes in the neighbourhood is also a Mass-goer, and discusses this with Bob, asking why he does not go to Communion. The detective himself is not keen on the Sign of Piece (which is shown in one sequence) and is all against the style of contemporary hymns. He is also concerned, and discusses this was Bob, that the church, with its small attendance, is about to be sold and turned into condominiums.
As we learn more about Bob, and the complexities of his life and attitudes, especially violence and his loyalty to Marv, we realise that, under a seemingly serene surface, he is a man of violence but yet having convictions about justice and right. He is a character that Graham Greene, with his novels’ tormented religious characters, would appreciate, especially Bob speculating as to whether, after his death, God would turn him away from heaven.
Audiences interested in this kind of New York crime film will find much to appreciate in the plot, its twists, the central characters, their dilemmas, all presented in dark shades, where life is complicated, and there is more grey than black and white.
1. A Dennis Lehane story, script? A crime story, a story of conscience?
2. Brooklyn, the atmosphere, bar, houses, streets, church? The musical score?
3. The title, the explanation about the money, the bars, the bosses, the Chechens, taking over from the old racketeers, new rackets, money collection, bags and newspapers, the collection into the safe, slipping the money in? The random choice of bars, the links to the Chechens, they hold? Security cameras? The collection in the early hours of the morning?
4. Marv, his bar, his cousin Bob, Millie and her drinking, ousting her, Bob paying for her drinks? The group toasting their dead friend? The range of clients, the temps at the bar, the crowds, watching the Superbowl? The empty bar? The past, Marv owning the bar, the gangsters taking over, Bob and his role with Marv?
5. Bob, Tom Hardy’s performance, cousin to Marv, working in the bar, kindness towards Millie, a quiet and slow man, yet shrewd? Covering his past? His going to Mass, in the church, not receiving communion, visiting the church early to pray? Seeing the statue of St Rocco with his dog, hence the name for the dog? Hearing the dog in the rubbish, finding it, asking help from Nadia? Her willingness, the help, minding the dog until the weekend, going shopping in the pet shop, the book? Bob going home, setting up the cage, scooping up the droppings, training the dog? Going to the park, the dog on the leash, Nadia watching? His attachment to the dog, Marv saying he treated the dog like a child? Eric, his threats, $10,000 for the dog, Bob having the cash, preparing to pay? Eric in the bar, with Nadia?
6. Marv, James Gandolfi’s last film, his age, owning the bar, losing it, the robbery in the bar, the Chechens demanding repayment, Marv running over one of the robbers? Marv and his reputation, killing the man who won on the poker machines and repaid his debt? Marv using Eric, Eric claiming credit for the murder but the news that he was in an institution at the time? Bob and the explanation that he did the murder for Marv? Marv, with Bob, the experience of the robbery, the contacts, the setup for Eric to rob the drop? Living with his sister, her concern about his having something to eat, his retiring, setting up the robbery, waiting outside, the phone call and Bob and answering, his being executed?
7. The robbers and the masks, the talk before going in, Bob and his noticing the watch and that it had stopped? Telling this to the police? His later recognising Eric and his voice?
8. The detective, coming to the bar, the interrogations, the discussions with Bob about the church, mass and not going to communion, the closing of the church and its being sold for condominiums?
9. Nadia, the encounter with Bob, the dog, Eric having been her boyfriend, minding the dog, going to the pet shop, losing her job, offering to mind the dog for pay? Eric, appearing in her house, her dressing up, going to the bar with Eric for the Superbowl, her fear, witnessing Bob shoot Eric, giving him the information? Her fear, tears, leaving, Bob going to her house, her response and staying with him?
10. The robbers, their plan, talking with Marv, the robber being run over?
11. The police, partners, reading the files about Eric, the detective and his surmising?
12. The Chechens, the threats, killings? Executing Marv?
13. The film immersing its audience in the atmosphere and feel for this part of Brooklyn? Understanding?
