100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 155: Locke

Director: Steven Knight

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 85 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Tom Hardy, Olivia Colman, Ruth Wilson, Andrew Scott, Ben Daniels, Tom Holland, Bill Milner, Danny Webb, Alice Lowe, Silas Carson, Lee Ross, Kirsty Dillon

Description: Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy), a dedicated family man and successful construction manager, receives a phone call on the eve of the biggest challenge of his career that sets in motion a series of events that threaten his carefully cultivated existence.

Review: One and a half hour of Tom Hardy driving a car from Birmingham to London. Doesn’t really sound exciting, but that’s the tendency of the movie. Director Steven Knight directs his second movie, with an amazing scenario.

The perfectly planned life of construction manager Ivan Locke is about to change. His loving family is waiting for him at home, while he is about to close the biggest deal of his career. The evening before, Ivan is forced to make a long trip to London. On that trip we find out that instead of building his perfect life, it’s ruined forever.

“Locke” is more a radio play then it is a traditional movie. This doesn’t mean there is nothing going on. There are more movies that had one character in only one location the entire runtime of the film. Look at “Phone Booth”, “127 Hours” and “Buried”. They were all in life threatening situations. “Locke” isn’t like that, but the great scenario keeps you on the edge of your seat anyway. The unexpected developments in the story make sure you keep your attention at all times.

Tom Hardy shows off his acting skills, he is one of the best and most wanted actors in Hollywood at the moment. Hardy is the only actor we see, the rest of the cast we only hear over the phone.

“Locke” proofs that you don’t need much to make a good film. The great performance by Tom Hardy make this car ride one you wouldn’t easily forget.

Rating: 4/ 5