Rent Locke (2013)

Impressive - Locke review by RS

What an impressive film, so original in concept and beautifully photographed. It was rewarding to travel down the motorway with this man called Ivan Locke, and be close to him - his story and emotions. I can also recommend watching extras and commentary for an insight into their film production methods.

Locke - Locke review by ps

Just watched this rubbish never so bored nearly fell asleep ! He never got to where he was going he was just talking people on the phone making excuses why he had to leave! what was the point of making this film absolutely no action only one actor!

More entertainment watching grass grow!

Rear-View Mirror - Locke review by CH

Only the mention of the start of a football match and its ending make one realise that the eighty minutes of Locke (2013) have not taken place in real time. That is, and also the reflection that had it done so then concrete-expert Tom Hardy would have been arrested for breaking the speed limit.

The film features only him as, strapped in, he drives along a night-time motorway all those 120 miles from Birmingham to London. As it is, the police could have pilled him to the hard shoulder, for he speaks well-nigh continually on his (admittedly hands-free) cellphone.

Written and directed by Steven Knight, who is well known for more conventional television work, this outing stands up well a decade on. Against a continual background of other vehicles’ lights and blue signs upon the bridges ahead, Hardy confronts the meaning of life. (The film’s title is not a reference to the philosopher but this eponymous Welsh driver, first name Ivan.) His career has been given to calculating the correct consistency of the concrete to be poured into the ground to support towers being built around the country. (Presumably he is a subscriber to the long-running, fascinating magazine Concrete Quarterly, whose archive is now available online.) The latest job, in the Midlands, is of particular interest to the powers-that-be in Chicago.

And what do we find? Locke has done a bunk this night before the dawn when the mixture should begin to pour into those foundations which are also the basis for the firm’s future contracts. Furthermore, he is not on the way back to his wife and sons but to the hospital where a troubled woman is about to give birth to the child whom he sired upon her after a casual encounter at some frightful awayday gathering.

All of this emerges amidst his giving instructions to a deputy about arranging the new day’s concrete pouring (which brings the immortal reply, several times, “I’m in an Indian restaurant!”). The motor-car echoes to all these variously querulous exchanges as Locke fixes his eyes upon the road ahead - physically and metaphorically. Among those seen but not heard are Ruth Wilson and Olivia Colman. One might wonder how it would work as a radio play, or read to oneself. Much, however, is gained by the darkness and fluorescence - and by the many expressions which Locke brings to something which would be a familiar scenario had it been otherwise set (if one can use that verb in this concrete context).

Waste of my life!! I cannot give 0 stars so it will have to be 1 - Locke review by NL

This film is about a man in a car - well done BMW for all the promotion you received from this film!! It did not go anywhere, it was a pointless storyline, utterly boring and not realistic at all. This man gives up his life so he does not make the same mistakes his imaginary Dad made, just to prove a point to someone that does not exist but who he talks to and the camera films.............ha ha ha

There was an awful lot of overacting and that is hard to do when the only characters are this one man and a lot of family and friends/colleagues on the over end of the phone. Tom Hardy did such a poor Welsh accent, you can tell that he is trying too hard. It was completely pointless, why did he need to be Welsh??!! It would have annoyed me less if he had not had any accept but his own, it started to grate on me just after 10 minutes it was that bad.

The genuine only reason why I watched it up to the end is because I actually wanted to see if he eventually got out of the car - and he didn't!! Wow, what a waste of time. I cannot give 0 stars so it will have to be 1 star and that is way too much

Do yourself a favour and watch some paint dry instead......

A man sits in a car. Yawn. - Locke review by Alphaville

A man drives from Birmingham to London at night while talking to people on his phone. The camera watches him. So do we. However good the acting or the writing, we watch a man sitting in a car. At least it was cheap to make. It would be boring in the theatre never mind the cinema. Perhaps it would make a good radio play. The heart aches for some cinematic imagination.

It works - Locke review by PT

You would think a film about a man driving away from his work commitments of overseeing a multi million pound concrete pour because he has a deeper moral commitment, wouldn't work for a film. Furthermore, apart from about one minute when Ivan Locke walks to his car and removes his concrete covered rigger boots, the remaining 81 minutes of the film feature Ivan in his car driving down the motorway. It does work though.

We see the reason for a totally reliable and work conscious man to abandon the pour as the film progresses, through his telephone conversations. The conversations were really engrossing and keep you hooked for the journey.

Unusual and gutsy film making with Hardy giving his usual great performance.

I really enjoyed this courageous offering from Steven Knight.

A waste of 1.5 hours - Locke review by CP Customer

This was a complete load of rubbish. I was extremely disappointed. If you want to watch one man driving down the motorway taking and making phones calls about concrete this is the film for you, otherwise I would say don't bother. I wish I had read the reviews before renting. Why Tom Hardy decided to star in this film I have no idea.