Review of Locke (2014) by Viet Phuong N — 26 Aug 2014

It was really a surprise when I realized that the director of this film was also "responsible" for the awful "Redemption" (aka. "Hummingbird") - his debut, poor him having such low start.

But after some reflection, I found that the two films indeed have a similar dreamy and dark visual as well as a depressed theme of underachievement, unlucky turns that change your whole life, and above all how a Man can, and should, make his choice in life.

But "Locke" is a much better film with a simpler but more elegant cast (including all the faceless "voices", because they do have "life" and even character development for themselves) and setting (which is confined in the BMW, but may also include various dreamy roadside views that remind me of the cover of Kazuo Ishiguro's Nocturnes) but a story that is ten times more complex and condense.

Such catalytic factors mixed with the superb performance by Tom Hardy (he is so good a drama actor, why Hollywood always tries to cast him in brainless muscle "action star">?) indeed propelled the film into a whole different level than "Hummingbird" - this is a case study on how to make a film that looks simple but is still utterly emotional, thought-provoking, and of course memorable.

The only minus of this film is the way the director injected different stories and climaxes to the plot, which is quite manipulating, suffocating and forceful. As such, the audience can think that the film is simple and thoughtful but will actually feel it over-complex and a little bit overdone.

Still, a superb slide of life that is.