Watching a character relay a lengthy and detailed description of the steps needed to lay a concrete foundation hardly sounds like dynamic cinematic entertainment. Yet, without question, the new film Locke actually manages to do this in a quietly intense manner. Thanks to the incredible performance of its lead actor, this is an odd but absorbing independent drama that becomes far more compelling than it has any right to be.
Set entirely within the confines of a car, the story follows Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy), a foreman driving towards London with a lot on his plate. He’s hours away from laying concrete for a massive building, is being urged by his family to return home and is dealing with an intimate personal crisis. Over the course of 90 minutes, he slowly begins to open up about the bizarre course of action he has suddenly decided to take. As Locke fields calls from “distressed” bosses, employees, doctors, as well as family and personal relations, he comes under fire for his choices that will place him in dire personal and professional straits.
The entire movie rests on the shoulders of Hardy and he’s up to the extremely difficult task. It’s a subtle, low-key performance that feels believable and doesn’t resort to histrionics. We witness a measured and controlled man fighting back emotion as events take turns for the worse, the stakes are raised, and the drama plays out. The script even manages to effectively extract some humor our of one of its plot-lines – Locke attempting to coach a frustrated employee over the phone is tension filled but also leads to some of the film’s funniest and most engaging moments. Most amazingly, as all of this is happening, the camera never leaves him for more than a moment. Director Steven Knight (Redemption) doesn’t resort to flashy photography or overly creative cutaways from its primary character. In many respects, it plays out like a one-man stage show.
Another aspect that makes the film interesting is the choices it forces its characters to make. Without giving away too much detail, this is a story about a man in a bad situation (of his own making), struggling to maintain his personal code of morals and ethics. However, there are no easy answers to his dilemma and the complications that arise result in life changing events. There is no decision that he can make that won’t adversely affect another aspect of his life and the story extracts tension and drama effectively from it all.
After such an effective build up, it can’t help but falter a bit at the end. The movie’s desire to present a realistic scenario results in an understated finish that, to some extent, doesn’t provide a revelatory moment or deliver the emotional wallop that one would hope for. In many respects, the trip itself ends up being more engaging than the destination.
Yes, the concept itself is a bit of a gimmick and the end result certainly won’t appeal to everyone, but Locke is an impressive cinematic gamble that will grab the attention of anyone looking to see something different from the typical summer blockbuster. And for any aspiring actors out there, it features a commanding performance worthy of future study.