Locke

Locke

Starring Tom Hardy, Ruth Wilson, Olivia Colman, Andrew Scott

Directed by Steven Knight

The Story:
Expert construction foreman Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) has just abandoned the biggest job of his career to drive to a hospital where Bethan (Olivia Colman) is giving birth to his child - the product of a one-night stand months earlier.  He wants to do the right thing because his father did the wrong thing, but that one event has reverberations in the present, as he spends his car ride talking to his co-worker Donal (Andrew Scott) about finishing the job tomorrow, as well as breaking the news of the affair to his wife Katrina (Ruth Wilson).  What results is a fateful drive where he entered the car with everything, but by the end could lose everything.

The Synopsis:
"The difference between never and once is the whole world.  The difference between never and once is the difference between good and bad."  This is a saying that's repeated throughout "Locke," a brilliant one-man film written and directed by the writer of "Dirty Pretty Things" and "Eastern Promises," and serves as the focal point for the longest drive in Ivan Locke's life.

Essentially, "Locke" is a chamber play - that is, a play performed by a small cast with practically no sets or costumes in a small space.  Another excellent example of a chamber play in film is Ryan Reynolds' "Buried," which had the entirety of the film focused on him trapped in a grave after being buried alive.  Here, it's strictly metaphorical about being buried alive, as Ivan is alive and well and in no physical harm, but the effects of one night does threaten to bury him alive.  Here, the film is entirely focused on Ivan Locke and his BMW, with absolutely no other humans on screen (although they are heard).  The screen rarely breaks away from his fateful drive, only to give short shots of the highway as he drives past.  In a sense, that car is Ivan's tomb.

It's a daring film to say the least.  When we go to films, we expect to be dazzled with marvelous set pieces, strong ensemble casts and dizzying action - "Locke" has none of that.  Instead, it's a deeply personal, deeply human, film that somehow keeps you riveted to Ivan's story, despite lacking all the above bells and whistles.  Ivan is not driving the save the world, not trying to stop an international terrorist, or even prevent a murder - he's driving for a new life.  The life that's coming out of a woman he barely knows, but feels a deep connection to due to his father's own abandonment.  He doesn't love the woman ("The Iron Lady" star Olivia Colman), and goes as far to tell her so, but he still wants to be there for the baby's birth.  He's trying to do the right thing, after making a disastrous mistake.

That mistake is like a snowball at the top of a mountain - it slowly begins an avalanche.  He tells his wife (Ruth Wilson, who ironically plays a cheating woman in the hit series "The Affair") about what happened all those months ago, and deals with her understandable anger and sadness.  Always the professional, he also instructs his fellow worker ("Sherlock" star Andrew Scott) on how to make the biggest construction job in his history go smoothly, while also trying to smooth things out with his boss ("House of Cards" star Ben Daniels).  He also tries being a caring father to his sons Sean (Bill Milner) and Eddie ("Spider-Man" star Tom Holland).

The biggest problem director Steven Knight could've had with this film is casting a terrible lead.  Thankfully, he did right when he picked Tom Hardy, who commands the screen and gives a career-defining performance.  We witness his powerful facade slowly crack away as he at moments gives steely, non-emotional responses and then at other times sheds tears and pounds the steering wheel.  We never leave his side as he faces a new world, and we're in the passenger seat as we see it all unravel.  It's not just an emotional ride for Ivan, but for us as well, due to Hardy's impeccable performance.  This is definitely one that shouldn't be missed.

The Summary:
Taking out the traditional bells and whistles for most movies, "Locke" centers around one character on screen the entire movie as we hear his world changing.  It's refreshing, poignant, powerful, and daring, but with a lead like Tom Hardy, we can trust the man behind the wheel.

The Score: A+