The Drop (2014) - Michael R. Roskam

Taking place in the seedy, underworld of Brooklyn's dirty money smuggling, Michael R. Roskam's The Drop tells the story of bartender Bob Saginowki, who funnels cash for gangsters at the bar with his cousin Marv. One night the bar is robbed by two armed gunman, placing Bob and his cousin Marv in the angry hands of the mafia who want their money found.  Bob attempts to simply mind his own business, but as the investigation into the robbery continues, secrets are revealed with Bob's past coming back to haunt him.  Michael R. Roskam's The Drop is a well-crafted crime thriller that excels due in part to a phenomenal cast from top to bottom.  Tom Hardy, James Gandolfini, Noomi Rapace, and Matthias Schoenaerts are all exceptionally well cast in their roles, all bringing weight to their performances whenever necessary.  What I found so interesting about The Drop is how it's the story of a rather simple-minded man in Bob Saginowki.  Even though he works closely to a world surrounded by violence Bob is mild-mannered, kind man.  He is a likeable character who is stuck in the midde of harsh world around him, and the way the film builds this character around this concept perfectly builds to its impressive conclusioon.  Thematially this is a film that challenge the notion that morality is black and white, and to call it a twist ending is selling The Drop short.  A well crafted, engaging film, The Drop is a unique and powerful entry in the crime thriller sub-genre that raises some interesting thematic questions that are rarely seen in films of this ilk.  

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