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Excellent performances by the late James Gandolfini, in his final role, and by Tom Hardy give "The Drop," a violent, dark, crime drama, a knockout punch. The powerful cast includes Noomi Rapace, the warm-hearted girl; Matthias Schoenaerts, a crazed baddie; John Ortiz, a sharp cop; Michael Aronov, a ruthless, fearsome Chechen gang boss; and Rocco, the pit bull puppy. The mix results in a thriller that keeps the excitement level high throughout.
Gandolfini’s character runs a bar in a rough section of Brooklyn. Hardy portrays his cousin and bar assistant. The Chechens control the bar and use it as a money drop, a place were low-level crooks leave money, a cut of their illegal activities, for the Chechen mob. One night a couple of dumb crooks enter the bar and rob the Chechens’ money. Someone must pay — and suffer. That’s when things start rolling and get wild.
"In Loving Memory of James Gandolfini" appeared on the screen when the picture was over. Nice. I think he would have liked the film. Gandolfini died in Rome June 19, 2013, at age 51. He married former model Deborah Lin of Honolulu at Central Union Church Aug. 30, 2008. Their daughter, Liliana Ruth Gandolfini, was born in Los Angeles on Oct. 10, 2012. …
A FREE SHOWING of "Under the Blood Red Sun," on the lawn of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, overlooking the USS Arizona Memorial, will be held Saturday. It is open to the public. Things get underway at 6:15 p.m. The film is an adaption of Graham "Sandy" Salisbury‘s book. It’s the story of a young Japanese-American boy’s struggles with wartime discrimination and the friends who stood by him after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Kyler Ki Sakamoto stars.
Bryce Moore, son of KHON2 anchorman Joe Moore, plays a bully. Salisbury, 70, was born in Philadelphia and moved to Hawaii when he was 2 months old. His family is from Hawaii. His uncle is Thurston Twigg-Smith, who owned the Honolulu Advertiser.
Salisbury went off to college in California at 19 and now lives in Lake Oswego, a suburb of Portland, Ore. He will sign books and participate in a question-and-answer session. There will be a red carpet introduction of actors and crew. Families are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and food and beverages in clear, plastic bags to the event, which is the center’s first film showing on the lawn …
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to former chief of police Lee Donohue, who celebrated his 72nd Tuesday. He received an early birthday present Aug. 31 when his Kick Start Karate Fundraiser topped $50,000 at Hawaii Kai Towne Center. Maunalua, Par 5, Danny Kaleikini and hula dancer Raelyn Tang performed. Kick Start Karate is a program to keep youngsters out of trouble …
Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
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