Movie Review: Locke (2014)
Written by Anthony Sargon
The summer movie season is generally associated with giant blockbusters, making it easy to overlook many smaller releases. “Locke,” which is directed by Steven Knight and stars Tom Hardy, is the definition of a small movie. The whole thing takes place in Hardy’s car as his character drives from one place to the next, and while it certainly has its moments, I wasn’t all that impressed.
Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) is a dedicated father, husband, and construction manager. He’s on the verge of making history with one of the most complex and major concrete pouring initiatives ever seen in the country, but gets one phone call that changes everything. When Locke decides that his work is less important than driving to London to face the consequences of a past decision, he puts his job, family, and sanity on the line.
I really wanted to be blown away by “Locke”, but I honestly wasn’t all that into it. For one, it’s extremely difficult to effectively create tension when you’re talking about pouring concrete over the phone for an hour. I get that it’s a major construction contract and it’s a big deal for Ivan, but it didn’t help hold my attention as an audience member.
Another factor that got in the way was Hardy’s inconsistent performance. He’s one of my favorite actors working today, but he’s all over the place in “Locke.” Any scene that involves him talking to himself (after he chugs some cough medicine) is pretty terrible. I also kept hearing his bane voice creeping back, which was highly distracting. Still, he’s more than capable of delivering some truly emotional moments, and he carries the entire film. I would have fallen asleep if a lesser actor were in the role.
Steven Knight’s direction is great, and considering that the film was shot over two days with Hardy just driving a car around, it’s quite impressive. But again, I felt very little tension or suspense. I kept zoning out during the first 10 minutes, and while that has more to do with my attention span than anything else, I just had a hard time getting invested in the story.
Hardy’s character is clearly going through a very difficult and emotional time, but I felt like a detached observer. I’m usually a fan of films that solely focus on one character in a very confined space, but this felt calculated and cold. I did really enjoy the ending, even if I did see it coming a mile away. It’s an ironic end since the cause of all of Locke’s problems becomes the sole bright spot in his life.
The Verdict:
“Locke” is a unique cinematic experience that will surely please many film fans. Unfortunately, I wasn’t all that blown away by the film or Hardy’s performance, and was a tad underwhelmed when all was said and done. Stream it.
Numerical Score: 6.5/10
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