Locke: Movie Review

Writer/director Steven Knight, who helmed the 2013 Jason Statham flick “Redemption” and also wrote the screenplay for “Eastern Promises” and “Closed Circuit”, is back pulling double duty with the unique yet slowly packed “Locke”.

Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) is a successful and respected construction foreman. He also has a loving wife and two sons at home. Spending his life trying to avoid following in the footsteps of his deceased father, Ivan tries to handle everything in the best way he can. Part of being human is making mistakes, and Ivan made a big one earlier in the year when he cheated on his wife and wound up getting the other woman pregnant. Wanting to do the right thing for the woman having his child, “Locke” makes the decision to drive down and be there for her since she has nobody else.

The entire 85 minutes of “Locke” takes place in Ivan’s car. Although Ivan is alone, he spends the whole 90 minute drive on the phone with various people. Ivan breaks the news of the infidelity to his wife Katrina (Ruth Wilson) over the phone. He also has to guide one of his employees Donal (Andrew Scott) through this major issue at work which Ivan will not be around for. Ivan also has to assure Bethan (Olivia Colman), the mother of his soon-to-be-born baby that he will be at the hospital in time for the birth. There are also a few other calls made along the way.

“Locke” may feel like a one-man-show and Hardy is more than up for it, but it is the talented voice cast that helps sell it. Especially Scott, who is completely freaked out about the position at work Ivan put him in. The calls between Donal and Ivan are by far the highlights of “Locke”. I just wish the rest of the film could have been as entertaining. Ultimately “Locke” feels like a short trip to nowhere.

By: Marc Ferman