Brilliant and interesting film. Once you get into the heart of the script, the premise blurs past. The dialogue is kept sharp between the characters and Tom Hardy plays a likeable yet troubled protagonist who just wants to do the right thing. Could of easily become boring but managed to stay above it with Knights writing (which he did from Boxing Day to New Years Eve) as well as the solid production (which was filmed in 5 days).
Inspirational in a way, that we have to own up to our mistakes and fuck-ups and face them no matter what, even if the stakes are high and the consequences are grave.
Tom Hardy's best and he shows incredible range, sitting in a car with the camera always on his face and his voice being the main tool at his disposal.
Has some terrific conversations and doesn't get mundane mainly due to the dialogues. Tom Hardy's monologues with his dead father are top-notch and act as his outlets.
Locke is an impressive Tom Hardy showpiece whose experimental conceit is that we never leave his character's car. It's all phone conversations. And it's brilliant. As a performance, Hardy modulates extremely well how we act differently with different people. Visually, it's not boring, and the chaos of the highway is the perfect counterpoint to the car interior where the protagonist is trying to create some kind of order. And as a story, it's layered and fascinating. For Hardy's character, two births are about to take place - that of his illegitimate child, and that of a concrete building he's been working on - both at great personal cost. Obviously, there's a metaphorical space between the two, rich in connections, which makes for a stimulating viewing experience.
Incredible acting and a solidly written script (solid like all the concrete references in the movie) make for a surprisingly absorbing watch, especially given the bizarre premise.
*click*
- "Hi, you've reached Stephen, writer and director of Locke, creator of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?". Unfortunately, I couldn't be with you right now, but, Tom, please [...]"
- "Hey, Tom here, also known from things where I'm not fighting Batman. I decided to deliver the rest of Stephen's message, so that's what I'll do. And I decided way before he just now handed me the opportunity to do so now," *pause*
- "I'm a good man, and a good actor. I just.. I want you to know this, so stay with me, please. Don't go. I've decided to do this because Stephen means the world to me. And so, that's what I'll do. His message should be delivered, and as he was unable to be here it only seemed natural for me to do so. When you hear the thing, that you know usually follows these kind of messages, please appreciate my involvement. Goodbye." *beep*
This is a great movie. Kind of an oddball, stands out in a crowd. Should be Oscar-material, but sadly, I don't see this one picked up. Tom Hardy is phenomenal, does this movie basically alone. The plot is straightforward enough, but the dialogue is very good. It's sharp, and thugs really at your heartstrings. This keeps the movie interesting, even though it is a guy, sitting in a car, talking on the phone. You start to reall care for the guy, which makes me bothered by the ending. In a good way. I like thi, probably in a Top 10 2014.
Good film, though Hardy's atrocious take on a Welsh accent was distracting throughout. Before I read elsewhere that it actually was supposed to be Welsh, I was thinking Scottish, Irish, continental of some kind, and even at the beginning-American. Whoever decided on that dropped a massive clanger.
Outstanding movie that keeps your attention and sucks you into the protagonist's life. Like 12 Angry Men and The Man from Earth, it once again illustrates how a solid script and acting will trump all these massive budget formula movies any day of the week.
The one slightly off putting thing was Hardy's accent, it sounded more Welsh than Birmingham.
I kind of want to go out and buy a BMW now. They look like they’re comfortable to drive and the whole scroll dial is pretty awesome. Yes, I realize this is a film blog and that I’m talking about a car, but Locke could really double as an 85 minute BMW commercial. The film was shot entirely in the car with Tom Hardy being the only actor to appear on screen. I’ve tackled films like this before. I actually find them supremely interesting due to the fact that the writer has to make an interesting film that takes place in only one place. Locke may actually be the most unique due to the fact that Tom Hardy never gets out of the car and there are literally no action scenes. The entire film is constructed around phone calls that our main and only character has with various people in his life. It was marketed as a thriller or at least that is how I took it, but let me assure you, this is not a thriller. This is a one man play and it’s played beautifully by Tom Hardy.
Locke has made a decision and he’s going to stick to it. The film centers around his decision to drive out to London after work in order to be with somebody. This decision is one that threatens to lose him his job and family but Ivan Locke is a good man and he feels this is the right thing to do. The theme of the film seems to be morality and what is the difference between a good and a bad thing. Do good actions made after bad decisions right the ship? I know that in my experience, it can go both ways. I’ve made mistakes before in my life and had to work extremely hard to fix them. Some things are unfixable. I’ve also had problems seemingly disappear on me as if they have never happened. Ivan Locke is a man who likes to take the practical approach to solve his problems. He’s one of the most respected and reliable men at his construction job. He’s the one people can trust because he’s going to do the job right every single time. What happens when that kind if person hurts somebody thought? The film dances around these questions and tries to find some sort of an answer that for me at least, never really came. Life isn’t that structured and Locke figures this out by the end of the film.
Fresh off his memorable role in The Dark Knight Rises, Tom Hardy, who looks much skinnier than his Bane character, pretty much knocked this one out of the park. I’ve been reading critic reviews that claim that it’s one of the better performances of the last couple years and I’m inclined to agree. The film was shot over six days in which Hardy had to recite the entire film twice a night. The actors who engage with him on the phone are really doing so in a hotel room and Hardy drives along the highway with cameras trained on him. It’s a fascinating way to make a movie but you really need that strong performance to pull it all together. Hardy did just that. His range of emotions was on full display and he really was able to sell this character as being a genuine person. Locke is a brutally honest man and Hardy was able to portray that with eye movement that didn’t come off false. There were a couple scenes involving his father that seemed a bit out of place but they were needed for back story and I was able to shrug them off.
The film overall held my attention and was able to keep me very intrigued the whole way through. Tom Hardy should, but probably won’t, get recognition for this role. It may actually be his best yet. Actually, no, Charlie Bronson can’t be matched. It’s just too good. The film is shot gorgeously in the night as well and the script ws pretty solid and fluid. It was a good watch. I’d recommend it.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 19
invisiblecities
i'd like to see a film of this from poor donal's perspectiveCinemaCraver
Brilliant and interesting film. Once you get into the heart of the script, the premise blurs past. The dialogue is kept sharp between the characters and Tom Hardy plays a likeable yet troubled protagonist who just wants to do the right thing. Could of easily become boring but managed to stay above it with Knights writing (which he did from Boxing Day to New Years Eve) as well as the solid production (which was filmed in 5 days).lmkmoviemaniac
Inspirational in a way, that we have to own up to our mistakes and fuck-ups and face them no matter what, even if the stakes are high and the consequences are grave.Tom Hardy's best and he shows incredible range, sitting in a car with the camera always on his face and his voice being the main tool at his disposal.
Has some terrific conversations and doesn't get mundane mainly due to the dialogues. Tom Hardy's monologues with his dead father are top-notch and act as his outlets.
Another pleasant surprise.
Siskoid
Locke is an impressive Tom Hardy showpiece whose experimental conceit is that we never leave his character's car. It's all phone conversations. And it's brilliant. As a performance, Hardy modulates extremely well how we act differently with different people. Visually, it's not boring, and the chaos of the highway is the perfect counterpoint to the car interior where the protagonist is trying to create some kind of order. And as a story, it's layered and fascinating. For Hardy's character, two births are about to take place - that of his illegitimate child, and that of a concrete building he's been working on - both at great personal cost. Obviously, there's a metaphorical space between the two, rich in connections, which makes for a stimulating viewing experience.elgw
Incredible acting and a solidly written script (solid like all the concrete references in the movie) make for a surprisingly absorbing watch, especially given the bizarre premise.MarkE89
*click*- "Hi, you've reached Stephen, writer and director of Locke, creator of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?". Unfortunately, I couldn't be with you right now, but, Tom, please [...]"
- "Hey, Tom here, also known from things where I'm not fighting Batman. I decided to deliver the rest of Stephen's message, so that's what I'll do. And I decided way before he just now handed me the opportunity to do so now,"
*pause*
- "I'm a good man, and a good actor. I just.. I want you to know this, so stay with me, please. Don't go. I've decided to do this because Stephen means the world to me. And so, that's what I'll do. His message should be delivered, and as he was unable to be here it only seemed natural for me to do so. When you hear the thing, that you know usually follows these kind of messages, please appreciate my involvement. Goodbye."
*beep*
Joker of Gotham
A Car, a phone and an oscar worthy performance by Tom Hardy, this is a movie to watch.4.25/5
palefire
Level - headed under pressure. Ivan Locke is a great protagonist.kurvduam
(removed by mod: please post in English)amavel
does anybody else think donal is ginger? another part for domhnall gleesonChikamaharry
This is a great movie. Kind of an oddball, stands out in a crowd. Should be Oscar-material, but sadly, I don't see this one picked up. Tom Hardy is phenomenal, does this movie basically alone. The plot is straightforward enough, but the dialogue is very good. It's sharp, and thugs really at your heartstrings. This keeps the movie interesting, even though it is a guy, sitting in a car, talking on the phone. You start to reall care for the guy, which makes me bothered by the ending. In a good way. I like thi, probably in a Top 10 2014.acoltismypassport
Good film, though Hardy's atrocious take on a Welsh accent was distracting throughout. Before I read elsewhere that it actually was supposed to be Welsh, I was thinking Scottish, Irish, continental of some kind, and even at the beginning-American. Whoever decided on that dropped a massive clanger.Yousef Mousa
Tom Hardy in his best shapeMrDoog
Outstanding movie that keeps your attention and sucks you into the protagonist's life. Like 12 Angry Men and The Man from Earth, it once again illustrates how a solid script and acting will trump all these massive budget formula movies any day of the week.The one slightly off putting thing was Hardy's accent, it sounded more Welsh than Birmingham.
The_Comatorium
I kind of want to go out and buy a BMW now. They look like they’re comfortable to drive and the whole scroll dial is pretty awesome. Yes, I realize this is a film blog and that I’m talking about a car, but Locke could really double as an 85 minute BMW commercial. The film was shot entirely in the car with Tom Hardy being the only actor to appear on screen. I’ve tackled films like this before. I actually find them supremely interesting due to the fact that the writer has to make an interesting film that takes place in only one place. Locke may actually be the most unique due to the fact that Tom Hardy never gets out of the car and there are literally no action scenes. The entire film is constructed around phone calls that our main and only character has with various people in his life. It was marketed as a thriller or at least that is how I took it, but let me assure you, this is not a thriller. This is a one man play and it’s played beautifully by Tom Hardy.Locke has made a decision and he’s going to stick to it. The film centers around his decision to drive out to London after work in order to be with somebody. This decision is one that threatens to lose him his job and family but Ivan Locke is a good man and he feels this is the right thing to do. The theme of the film seems to be morality and what is the difference between a good and a bad thing. Do good actions made after bad decisions right the ship? I know that in my experience, it can go both ways. I’ve made mistakes before in my life and had to work extremely hard to fix them. Some things are unfixable. I’ve also had problems seemingly disappear on me as if they have never happened. Ivan Locke is a man who likes to take the practical approach to solve his problems. He’s one of the most respected and reliable men at his construction job. He’s the one people can trust because he’s going to do the job right every single time. What happens when that kind if person hurts somebody thought? The film dances around these questions and tries to find some sort of an answer that for me at least, never really came. Life isn’t that structured and Locke figures this out by the end of the film.
Fresh off his memorable role in The Dark Knight Rises, Tom Hardy, who looks much skinnier than his Bane character, pretty much knocked this one out of the park. I’ve been reading critic reviews that claim that it’s one of the better performances of the last couple years and I’m inclined to agree. The film was shot over six days in which Hardy had to recite the entire film twice a night. The actors who engage with him on the phone are really doing so in a hotel room and Hardy drives along the highway with cameras trained on him. It’s a fascinating way to make a movie but you really need that strong performance to pull it all together. Hardy did just that. His range of emotions was on full display and he really was able to sell this character as being a genuine person. Locke is a brutally honest man and Hardy was able to portray that with eye movement that didn’t come off false. There were a couple scenes involving his father that seemed a bit out of place but they were needed for back story and I was able to shrug them off.
The film overall held my attention and was able to keep me very intrigued the whole way through. Tom Hardy should, but probably won’t, get recognition for this role. It may actually be his best yet. Actually, no, Charlie Bronson can’t be matched. It’s just too good. The film is shot gorgeously in the night as well and the script ws pretty solid and fluid. It was a good watch. I’d recommend it.
4/5
www.thoughtsfromthebooth.com
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