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Here's a look at the new movie I saw this week.

The Drop
Starring: James Gandolfini, Tom Hardy, and Noomi Rapace
Synopsis: In June 2013 the cinema world lost a great talent when James Gandolfini passed away. Though he’s been gone for more than a year, his legacy on screen continues to grow. Last summer, in the romantic comedy “Enough Said,” audiences saw a different side of Gandolfini. He was great opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfuss in a role that felt miles away from his iconic part on “The Sopranos.” This week Gandolfini’s final screen credit – the crime drama “The Drop” – features him in a familiar role. It’s a gritty crime drama based on an original script from novelist Dennis Lehane. Gandolfini is strong in the film, playing a familiar role, but this is really another great turn for Tom Hardy, who steals the film with his characters steely resolve. Bob (Hardy) is a simple man. He works as a bartender at a bar owned by the mob. It’s one of several in the city that serves as a drop point for illegal gambling. Bob is immersed in the world, but he tries to stay above it. He attends Mass every day, keeps his head down and feels he’s not a part of the dirty deeds that surround him each day. His cousin Marv (Gandolfini) feels different. He used to own the bar, but lost it to the mob. He is bitter about it. He feels the world, and the neighborhood owes him something. And when his bar is robbed – putting him and Bob in hot water with the real owners – he has a curious reaction.  Bob, meanwhile, beings an odd adventure of his own. On his way home he finds a beaten pit bull puppy in the trash. After rescuing the dog, he forms a connection with a neighborhood woman, Nadia (Noomi Rapace), as she helps him learn to raise a dog. Nadia has scars of her own – literally and figuratively – and Bob soon finds himself drawn into something he doesn’t really understand. Lehane is a gifted novelist, responsible for the source material for “Mystic River,” “Gone Baby Gone” and “Shutter Island,” among others. The story of “The Drop” is one he’s mused on for years. He originally wanted to write it as a novel, but later turned into a short story. Here he adapts that short story into a film script – and after the film’s production he turned it into a novel. Lehane has a great feel for the material and the world. The characters come fully formed and the narrative draws you in. It’s a gritty film full of broken people trying to make their way and stay above the fray. Gandolfini could probably play the part of Marv in his sleep. It feels like the kind of part he’s been playing – and adding dimension to – for years. He’s expectedly great, and does a great job of bringing his character to life. Rapace – best known for her work in as the original “Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” – also does a good job of bringing her character to life and adding depth. But this film rises and falls with Hardy. He’s a very expressive actor, saying more in scenes where he doesn’t have any dialogue than others can with rousing speeches. He settles into the character and doesn’t miss a beat. His work is the glue that holds the movie together. “The Drop” isn’t an incredibly original story. It’s a story of broken people in a violent world doing what needs to be done to get by. Or, in some cases, swinging for the fences in an attempt to get out but falling short. It’s the execution and performances that help bring the film to life. It’s a worthy final film credit for Gandolfini as well.

Rating: R for some strong violence and pervasive language. Enter with caution.

Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

Friday, September 12 — "A Dolphin Tale 2," "No Good Deed," "Search Party"

Friday, September 19 — "This Is Where I Leave You," "A Walk Among the Tombstones," "Maze Runner," "Reclaim"

Friday, September 26 — "The Equalizer," "The Boxtrolls," "Laggies"