Rating: 2 1/2 Stars (Out of Four)

Dennis Lehane may be one of the luckiest authors alive – having not just one but four of his stories adapted into good films.

And since he wrote this one himself from one of his short stories, you know it’s going to be good.

“The Drop” might look like just another standard-issue crime drama pumped out to make a quick profit but its depth and fine performances make it significantly higher quality than those films.

And while it doesn’t quite compare to, say, “Gone Baby Gone” or “Shutter Island,” it’s still pretty entertaining.

Bob (Tom Hardy) and Marv (James Gandolfini) are two cousins who run a seemingly ordinary bar in Brooklyn, but in reality, they work for the mob by illegally laundering their money and hiding it from the police.

After two gunmen storm the bar and steal the money, both men find themselves pressured by their employers to recover it or face the consequences, which in turn reveals hidden secrets from their pasts.

Meanwhile, Bob forms a relationship with a woman named Nadia (Noomi Rapace) when they rescue an abused dog.

Directed by Michael R. Roskam, “The Drop” has a rather “by-the-numbers” narrative that we’ve come to expect from these kinds of films, utilizing a gritty tone and standard drama with relative ease.

The strength of Lehane’s script, however, is what makes the viewing worthwhile.

Never one to shy away from the complexities of his primary genre, he crafts a somewhat uneven but compelling plot populated by interesting characters whose relationships with each other are the story’s driving force.

This brings a sense of welcome simplicity to the proceedings where you don’t have to over-analyze everything that happens but are still kept guessing as suspense builds.

But this is, first and foremost, a story about Bob and how he deals with the events unfolded. Tom Hardy is superb in the role, and perfectly conveys the character’s internal struggles that allow you to sympathize with him even when learning his darkest secrets.

One of Bob’s most notable traits is his Catholic faith, which adds a whole new layer of complexity to his feelings and actions.

But each supporting character has their own unique qualities as well. Matthias Schoenaerts plays Nadia’s ex-boyfriend in a key role that is chillingly effective as the main antagonist, while Nadia manages to transcend her status as a mere plot element during some key scenes and Rapace’s chemistry with Hardy ranks among the film’s highlights.

Marv doesn’t get nearly as much focus as he should and lacks subsequent depth but his motivations provide some well-needed insight into his psyche, which is effectively embodied by James Gandolfini (in his final role).

Even though this film doesn’t really bring anything new to the genre and has its fair share of imperfections, it should still be noted that it is an otherwise competently made thriller with a significant focus on character.

That’s something we don’t get nearly enough of these days, so it’s good to know that filmmakers are still capable of making small-scale productions imbued with suspense and psychological depth.

And if nothing else, this is a good showcase for the actors’ talents and one of those few films worth seeing just for that.

It’s a good example of how much more emotional a film can be when there aren’t enormous amounts of gunfights and explosions to distract from the artistic stuff.