Tom Hardy finds drama by the dashboard light in ‘Locke’

  • By Robert Horton Herald Movie Critic
  • Wednesday, May 14, 2014 6:03pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

In “Locke,” a man drives a car for the 85-minute duration of the film. He is not being chased, nor is there a ticking bomb in the back seat. He isn’t headed for an international border with a suitcase packed with gold, or dying of radiation poisoning and trying to reach the antidote.

He drives the car. He talks on the telephone. That’s it.

Why did I find this movie compelling? For one thing, I have a fondness for films in close quarters, like “Rear Window.” For another, the actor who occupies the driver’s seat is Tom Hardy.

We hear other peoples’ voices, but Hardy—as a building contractor named Ivan Locke—is the only person on screen. Having gotten a reputation for sculpting his physique for movies such as “Inception,” “Warrior” and “The Dark Knight Rises,” Hardy uses his body here almost not at all.

But he’s got his face, bathed in the glow of the dashboard and the flicker of street lights. And he’s got a peculiarly buttery (Welsh-accented?) voice that becomes hypnotic as he juggles his problems.

And he does have problems — maybe not the bomb in the back seat, but problems. Locke is driving to London at night. His wife and two sons expect him at home to watch soccer. His colleagues expect him at the location north of London where they’re about to pour concrete the next morning for a huge building project—and he’s the expert in such things.

Instead, he’s driving to London to see another woman. He does not love this woman — a point that becomes crucial during his conversations with her — but he feels compelled to join her.

The guy goes from conversation to conversation, putting out fires and digging his grave. He’s also drinking cough syrup and maybe getting slightly stoned, which could explain the imaginary conversations he has with his father.

Director Stephen Knight, who penned the screenplays for “Dirty Pretty Things” and “Eastern Promises,” has gone “all in” on the simplicity of the set-up. It’s the only way — flashbacks or cutaways to the other characters would’ve dissipated the mood.

Except for a resolution that feels forced and sentimental, “Locke” sustains its interest — as long as you can go with this kind of thing. If you expect action, or some kind of big drama, you will be looking for a refund by the halfway mark.

Above all, the film’s a tour-de-force for an actor. Hardy soothingly repeats certain lines like mantras (“I will take care of it. … The traffic is OK”), and we get a glimpse of someone who’s spent his life being organized and in control. For one night, he’s losing it a little. That’s enough drama to carry this exercise in minimalism.

“Locke” 3½

The movie consists entirely of one man driving in a car at night. So be advised. But watching this harried fellow juggle his many personal problems becomes an interesting spectacle, and Tom Hardy is absolutely fascinating as the only person who appears on screen.

Rating: R, for language

Opens: Friday at the Harvard Exit.

Talk to us

More in Life

Most of the rooms boast views of Lake Stevens and the Cascade Range. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Victorian home puzzle inspired this Lake Stevens mansion

The 10,490-square-foot Mansion Inn is a massive secret that’s perfect for a mini getaway.

Caption: The years come and go, but some birthdays warrant extra reflection. (Jennifer Bardsley)
Milestone birthdays make parents ask: where did the time go?

From cake frosting in their hair to the car keys in their hands, it all goes by so fast.

Frankfurt's Romerberg Square looks old, but the half-timbered buildings were rebuilt in 1983, four decades after bombs destroyed the originals during World War II.
Rick Steves’ Europe: Experience modern Germany in Frankfurt

For years, Frankfurt was a city to avoid, but today, its no-nonsense energy makes it worth a look.

Budget charges $250 for calibrating a camera. Is that legit?

Budget sends Tony Parise a $250 bill for recalibrating a camera on the windshield of his rental car. But he says nothing happened to it. Does he still have to pay?

Steve Klein moves some of his glasswork into place as fellow guest curator Meg Holgate watches during installation of A Precarious Edge at Schack Art Center on Sunday, March 19, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Exhibits shine light on natural beauty on the edge of loss

Artists worried about climate change work ‘for future generations’

In this side-by-side image, the Totem Diner and Pacific Stone Company signs put on a flirty display for all to see Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Signs of love on Rucker Ave: blushing rocks, scrambled eggs, a coffee date

Messages on display on Totem Family Diner and Pacific Stone Co. signs reveal “secret crushes.” More updates expected.

Comedian Jeff Dye is scheduled to do a show March 25 in Everett. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Comedian Jeff Dye does a set in Everett on Saturday. And country star Tracy Byrd performs locally Friday.

Some of the brightest spots in my garden right now are my clumps of mixed crocuses. (Getty Images)
Lessons spring from what does and does not winter over

Taking stock of how your garden fared through the cold, wet months will help you plant for the future.

Antique mocha ware, made in England to export to the United States and Canada in the 18th and 19th centuries, caught collectors’ attention in the mid-20th century. Like many mocha pieces, this colorful mug is decorated with several patterns.
The name for decorated pottery like this can be deceiving

Mocha pottery is made from clay and features colorful patterns painted over a white glaze.

Most Read