By
Darin Skaggs
Locke is one of the most gimmicky films
made in recent memory. It stars Tom
Hardy as Ivan Locke. In the first scene
we see him leave his construction job, enter his car and drive away. From there it is only Locke in a car driving
on the highway having several phone conversations with co-workers, his wife and
a mysterious woman. He calls to say he
won’t make it to work nor won’t be at home that night. We slowly find out where he is heading to,
the mysterious woman is delivering his baby from one night of passion. The whole film is him driving to this woman
while dealing with the repercussions of leaving all his responsibilities of his
job and home.
This
idea has a lot of potential and Hardy is giving a wonderful performance but the
film does not all come together. The
film falls flat due to the odd choice of why Locke is doing what he is
doing. You spend about the first third
of the film wondering what this man is up to.
When it is revealed though it does not seem to fit in the story, you are
left with an awkward taste in your mouth.
And maybe that is the point of the film but by the end you are wondering
why he does all this, lose his job and get into a big fight with his wife, just
to help this woman. Just talk it out, it
will turn out better. You’re left
wondering what the point of the film is.
Is it about owning up to your mistakes?
Is it about how phones are making messing up easier to deal with? Well, whatever the film is trying to say it
does not come through in a clear way.
What
does make this film watchable though is all the other aspects to it. The film looks beautiful, several great shots
of Locke driving at night. When the
camera is on him there are good shots of headlights coming toward him, and then
passing right at the last minute. Other
times it almost makes you feel you’re on a peaceful car ride even though what
is happening in the car is very stressful.
Tom Hardy also does an amazing job throughout the film. He carries it so well acting so cool, calm
and collected but we know inside he is full of stress and sadness.
Locke had a lot going for it; the
premise, the acting and the look of it.
Sadly, the film just falls flat and becomes just awkward to watch after
you fully process what this man is doing.
What the film is trying to say is unclear. Locke
is well made but not worth your time.
