The night, a man, his car, and his phone make up the whole of this tight, tense, solo road movie. Ivan, a foreman whose predicament is revealed via a series of phone conversations with family, co-workers, and assorted others, is shown mostly in medium close-up and always in his car. The journey turns out to be more interesting than the destination, and the viewer is drawn in, captivated, watching a stranger’s face turn into a life. 2014, UK, 83 minutes
Post-film discussion. A screenwriter’s perspective on the film, with J. D. Zeik.
“Tom Hardy, the actor who plays him, is by turns spellbinding, seductive, heartbreaking, explosive and flat-out thrilling. At a time when the studios are spending vast sums of money on a bigger-is-better aesthetic, here’s a chamber piece with the impact of high drama.” – Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
“Hardy delivers one of the best acting jobs I’ve ever seen at the movies.” “Top 10 of 2014” – Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times
“This ingeniously executed study in cinematic minimalism has depth, beauty and poise. . . .” – Leslie Felperin, Variety
“Cinema is not about special effects, but about human emotion and a face in close-up. For those in doubt, Locke is the proof.” – Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
