Locke

You wouldn't really think that a movie about a Welsh construction expert's middle-of-the-night motorway journey which has been filmed exclusively inside a car with only one actor and a supporting cast of phone voices to drive the narrative, would be a riveting piece of modern cinema would you?
But it is.....
Locke is a masterclass of good film making .
It has pathos, humour, a great deal of drama and a central performance worthy of an Oscar, everything you would want on a Wednesday night, when you are venturing out during round 2 of The Great British Bake Off.
Like I said, Locke on the surface is a simple story. Ivan Locke ( an almost unrecognisable Tom Hardy) is a successful , meticulous and quietly spoken construction foreman. On the eve of his biggest work deadline ever, he juggles an irate boss, a panicking junior foreman, a needy one night stand who is in labour with his baby and a shocked and bewildered family who he loves dearly.
All this is done by phone  with characters we never see, and so it is up to Hardy and Hardy alone to carry the entire film and give it the dramatic punch the story requires.
Tom Hardy is a revelation. This is clearly his best film to date, and in a restrained and careful performance he perfectly captures a man of great principle who is haunted by the trauma of an absent father and a catastrophic life challenge
He also masters a wonderfully sexy welsh accent with some aplomb
9/10

29 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:48 pm

    Now that sounds like something I would like to see.

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  2. Me too, John. I would probably like this. Thanks for the review!

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  3. It sounds like an expert summing up. I can't even imagine the challenge of being the only face on scene in a feature length film. Intriguing.

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  4. Thanks for the review.
    I hope Netflix gets this so I can watch it.

    cheers, parsnip

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  5. Thanks for the review. If it makes its way across the Pond, i'll seek it out.

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  6. Haven't heard of it here yet but look forward to it. There has not been anything interesting on at the pictures ( movies ) for ages. Thanks for the tip.

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  7. He must be a heck of an actor.

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  8. I fear it'll never get here, but perhaps it'll be available on some internet medium. Sounds like I'd like it.

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  9. I'll keep my eyes peeled for it if it ever gets to Edmonton! I'm sure it will show up sooner or later at our local arthouse cinema.

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  10. First I've heard of this film. I will watch for it.

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  11. Dear John:
    You need to write a screenplay. Seriously!
    Awesome you are my dear Welshman.
    Lovingly,
    Ruth in Oxnard.
    Ca as in USA

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  12. Sounds good.

    Love,
    Janie

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  13. This sounds interesting. Hope it hits Netflix in a few months.

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  14. I wondered about saeeing this film, but forgot to go. I think I'm going to have to track it down in some of the local fringe cinemas now.

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  15. This is on our 'watch at the weekend' list and I am very much looking forward to it. Although I'm not sure how the lovely Tom will play both Kray twins convincingly ...

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  16. I'm so grateful for your regular trips to the cinema, how else would I know which films to go and see (or more likely buy on DVD). This sounds like we would enjoy it. Thanks for the review!

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  17. Before I read this I re-read my own review to refresh my memory, it being as long ago as April, and then came back to this posting of yours with some apprehension. But there'd been no need to worry. So very pleased that you liked it as much as I had and that your long wait had been worth it. With your multitude of followers you'll now get a lot more people to view it than I managed, which is all to the good for such a fine film.
    (Thinks: Will J.G. now be making the effort he suggested he might to see 'Boyhood'? Will our opinions diverge on that one?)

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  18. I loved this film, I thought Tom Hardy was excellent. If you had told me before I watched it that it was one man in a car on the phone, I might have doubted it would keep me interested. It had me gripped all the way through. The mister on the other hand was rather bemused, muttering 'what was that all about then?'

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  19. Do I take it you will now be polishing up your welsh accent?

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  20. I doubt this movie will ever make it to mainstream cinema here in AUS.

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  21. It doesn't appear to be on anywhere near where we live either - grr. I do have soft spot for Tom Hardy

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  22. Sounds enjoyable, I hope it makes it here.

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    Replies
    1. Amazon has it on DVD and BlueRay

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  23. This sounds like an incredibly intriguing plot actually. One actor carrying an entire film takes a lot of talent!

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  24. Sounds interesting. Have not been to the movies for 6 or 8 years, most of the ones that come around here are all pop culture rubbish. I think the last one I really enjoyed was Other Peoples Lives.

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  25. First saw him in 'Stuart a Life Backwards' and he was amazing. Complex character and a brilliant actor. Will look out for this film thanks, Janx.

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  26. Sounds good, I'll watch out for that one.

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  27. This will never make it to American cinema as it has no car chase, wild explosions, emotionally scarred hero, sex. It make show in an art film cinema. But I suspect we will have to search for it in a few years on Amazon Prime Movies. Sounds perfect for Tom Hardy...an excellent actor who will continue acting well into his 80s, because he is so talented.

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