The Drop (15)

Directed by Michael R Roskam

4/5

THIS slow-burning crime drama, set in the underworld of working-class Brooklyn, is a fitting swansong for the late, great James Gadolfini. 

In his last ever performance he stars as Cousin Marv,  a former respected crime boss who lost his standing after becoming indebted to a Chechen crime lord. He’s forced to hand over his bar and allow the gangsters to drop off their ill-gotten money there. 

Tom Hardy gives the performance of his career as the slow-natured Bob who tends the bar for his shady cousin and turns a blind eye to the cash drops until he finds himself in the middle of a robbery gone awry. 

In another narrative strand, he gets obsessed with a brutalised puppy he finds in a dustbin, along with its owner Nadia (Noomi Rapace). 

This adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s short story Animal Rescue, penned by the bestselling writer himself in his first screenplay, is deliciously slow and brooding and takes you on a riveting but brutal journey through Brooklyn’s crime-ridden underbelly. 

Centring on betrayal, loyalty, family and a gangster’s warped definition of doing the right thing — mainly by his dog — it is unexpectedly moving and full of surprises, with unforgettable performances by Hardy and Gandolfini. 

Maria Duarte

Third Person (15)

Directed by Paul Haggis

3/5

THE BEST way to enjoy Paul Haggis’s new romantic drama is frankly to see it knowing as little about it as possible. 

It is about the interlocking tales of three couples in New York, Paris and Rome, a multifaceted story device which is reminiscent of Haggis’s Oscar-winning Crash.  But this isn’t as intense or as worthy. 

It features another star-studded cast which includes Liam Neeson, Olivia Wilde, Mila Kunis, Adrien Brody, Maria Bello and James Franco, all of whom deliver fine performances. 

Haggis takes you on a gripping rollercoaster ride full of shocking twists and turns which at the very end will either leave you cheated or shell shocked and wonderfully intrigued.  

If it is the latter it will prey on your mind long after the final credits have rolled. 

Maria Duarte

Life Itself (15)

Directed by Steve James 

3/5

BASED on his bestselling memoirs of the same name, Life Itself explores the impact and legacy of Roger Ebert, film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Addressing political and social issues throughout his career, he became a significant voice on the international scene culturally. 

In the documentary, filmmakers and politicians reflect on Ebert’s life, with the director vividly capturing his fighting spirit, his sharp sense of humour and the ways he directly inspired filmmakers, family and friends. 

It’s a gracefully constructed work, which creates an intimate and honest portrait of a man who fully lived through his times. 

Rita Di Santo

David Bowie Is (PG)

Directed by Hamish Hamilton 

4/5

 THIS film by Bafta -winning director Hamish Hamilton focuses on the closing night of the exhibition about David Bowie at the V&A in London. 

As it does so, it takes the audience on a journey through the artist’s creative world. 

Elegant, stylish and entertaining, it’s a documentary which celebrates Bowie’s radical approach to music and his unique freedom of expression. 

A poignant reflection.

Rita Di Santo