There’s a lot to say about the film, The Drop. It has three stellar performances from Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, and the late James Gandolfini. It has a dark melancholy tone like most of Dennis Lehane’s work (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone). And it has a well-told story with intricate characters.

The story centers on Bob Saginowiski (Tom Hardy), a bar tender who works at his cousin Marv’s (James Gandolfini) bar in Brooklyn. The bar serves as a “drop spot,” where mobsters and criminals deposit their dirty money. After a robbery on the bar, Bob finds himself tangled in something more threatening that delves deeper into the neighborhoods past.

One of the main story elements that the film dives into is “the past.” All the characters in the movie have complications and past regrets. One of the more notable examples is Bob and his past life. A lot is unknown about Bob when the film starts up. As the film moves forward, it begins to unravel that the kind and lonely bartender holds something more unsettling on the inside.

As the The Drop delivers strong performances and an intricate plot, it falls a bit dull in some areas. The overall pacing of the film is slow. The depressing and gloomy tone of the movie doesn’t help it move faster either. The film packs a punch at the more intense moments but there isn’t any build up to make it note-worthy.

The Drop may not deliver in all categories, but it is a notable watch in the pre-Oscar season with solid performances from all the cast.

3/5 Tomahawks