One of the most thrilling theatrical experiences I've had in years, “Locke” is brilliant, edge-of-your-seat storytelling.
Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) is a successful construction manager, family man and all-around great guy. All of that changes with one phone call, and Ivan spends the next 80 minutes driving to his destination, juggling nine different phone conversations, fighting his own demons and doing everything he can to hold his crumbling life together.
It's character-driven, dramatic filmmaking at its finest.
Director Steven Knight does a fantastic job of showing us how one man deals with a mistake, not just putting the viewer in the passenger seat but trapping them in the vehicle with him. The viewer is the metaphorical friend stuck in the middle of an uncomfortable situation they cannot escape, finding out everything at the same time the voices on the phone are. This helps build anticipation for call after call.
This proves a thrilling moment after Locke tells his wife what happened. She hangs up as another call happens. When that call ends, his wife calls back. The other call helped us forget about her. Locke forgot about her. It's a scary moment that’s effectively propped up by the music, which builds the scene to the point where I almost yelled out loud, “Don't answer!!”
Knight (who previously wrote “Eastern Promises”) gives us a tremendous one-man play on wheels, and Hardy proves once again that he is in a class of his own. It will be a shame if this performance is not recognized by the Academy in February. We see Hardy at his highest, his lowest and everything in between.
The voice cast is phenomenal. Each voice is authentic, but Olivia Colman ("Hot Fuzz") shines as Bethan. She's the driving force of the movie. Andrew Scott's Donal provides much-needed comic relief that helps take the edge off.
“Locke” is the thriller film stripped down to its bare minimum. There are no villains. Locke is not running from the police. There isn't some car pursuing him. It's a man dealing with the reality and consequences of one decision.