Review of Locke (2014) by Demetrios M — 31 Oct 2015

It might not look like the most interesting of films from the outlook, a man sits in his car for 84 minutes and talks on his phone, but my word this is interesting. Locke is a movie that is dramatically brilliant and mixes fantastic acting with some very good directing and writing and in the end produces a movie that is both thrilling and yet emotional too. The plot revolves around a man named Ivan Locke who is just leaving a large concrete pour where soon a building he has helped create the foundations for will be built. Locke is travelling home to his family, his wife Katrina and his two boys Eddie and Sean, but the story takes a very different turn and Ivan's decisions could affect the rest of his life.

Shot pretty much entirely on a motorway (the M6 to be exact), Locke is one of those movies which utilises its actors and the way in which it looks to us the viewer. First of all Tom Hardy is magnificent in the role as Ivan Locke, his calm voice is well put on but he manages to make Locke a character that can jump from one emotion to the other, Hardy makes the transition look simple. We hear the voices only of all characters otherwise involved, Ruth Wilson, Olivia Colman and Andrew Scott are some of the voices on hand that all night seem to ring continuously and do a fine job of it as well, Ivan seriously though uses his phone a lot!

The way in which it looks is incredible, it's the lights of the cars and the lamp posts that make this oddly sleepy but in truth a movie that you can't take your eyes off because it's so damn beautiful. I can't think of many movies which use driving long distances to such wonderful effect, especially when you consider the car doesn't stop much and it is also night outside of the car. I think the director Steven Knight really get's it right in tone and it feels he knew exactly what he wanted because this is a great movie, I mean sure this will not be everyone's cup of tea but I don't think you can deny this doesn't look nice.

I think another way in which Knight really makes this gripping and something to be watched by all is the way in which he moulds the story around Locke, the drive instead of being quiet instantly becomes a stunning kind of ride, one where Ivan is drawn into many different things that change course as the movie goes toward the end. I can't forget of course that all important writing from Knight as well, this is the sort of movie where writing is most obviously observed and it is easy also to see that Steven Knight hits the nail on its head and creates a script worthy of much praise.

Overall Locke is a movie I could recommend to anyone, it is really a likable piece and even those lacking in attention for movies I feel could still be drawn in by this. As for Tom Hardy well what else can be said that what an actor, this guy deserved a lot for this and I feel this is really a showcase of what he can do, uses his skills well and without him being good this could have crashed and burned before it even reached Luton. So yes Locke a movie that feels like a bit of an experiment but really it isn't, Steven Knight I have no doubt knew exactly what this would do to us the viewer and grabbed the opportunity with both hands.