Powerful

Best movie of this year hands down!

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

07/30/2018 I went into this movie because of James Gandolfini and Noomi Rapace who both guarantee excellence, never suspecting that Tom Hardy would outshine them both. The part that he played was exceptional, completely believable from the beginning to the very satisfying end. This is a perfect movie, like I wish all were, but of course are not. Watch for yourself, I'm sure that you'll agree. Bon Appetit

As a lover of the trade and somewhat of an experienced viewer and judge of *character acting*. One can tell when an actress/actor are given opportunities as a consequence of genuine talent and MERIT --- and on the other hand when someone were NOT... Sometimes bad acting can ruin it. Big time. Not a sinister person and I´m sorry, but - Noomi Rapace is a mediocre "actress" at best. She lacks depth in anything she does on the big screen. Yes, she had a breakthrough with a part in a Swedish film (that was probably difficult to fail in). But then what?! Rapace's voice is as wonderfully dynamic and pleasurable as fingernails on a chalkboard. Every. Single. Line. I usually choose not to ever comment on anybody´s looks unless whoever is fortunate enough to be attractive, or was given an interesting and/or unique personal appearance that gives value to a specific character or the experience as a whole. However. When taking up space that someone genuinely talented and skillful should have had, perhaps an audience may be entitled to. If I´m 5´5" and a lousy ball technician that can´t jump, perhaps I shouldn´t be in the NBA. Some peoples' physical features can annoy enough to distract ones attention away from the character or plot, but often times the acting is skillful and strong enough to overcome this and instead use it to the advantage of the entirety of the film. Unfortunately the latter is far from happening here. With hardly mediocre acting skills and less than an attractive voice and looks, well...

Clearly, this movie carries some violence and might not be everybody's cup of tea, but it is pillared by superb performances by Hardy - perhaps his best to date - Gandolfini, Rapace and Schoenaerts.Good dialogue, strong direction, impeccable photography, and a very credible storyline make this one of the more unexpected gems I have watched recently.Well deserved 8/10.

THE DROP is another gritty and realistic American crime drama of the kind that are all the rage. It stars the underrated Tom Hardy as a bartender who gets drawn into a murky world when his business is done over and he becomes implicated in the crime. Somewhat bizarrely, much of the character work in the film relates to an abused dog that Hardy finds and rescues, so animal lovers will probably enjoy these scenes. Hardy stars along with Noomi Rapace and the late James Gandolfini, for whom this was his last role before his sudden death. As a slow-burner, THE DROP is well put together and shot, but I kept thinking the story was mere build-up to something bigger, and then it ends, leaving me a little disappointed by the simplicity of the plotting.