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Locke (2013)

Locke is about a construction manager who makes a few phone calls during a midnight drive to a certain destination.

Steven Knight took a lot of risks in writing and directing a movie like this. Because it's a single location film the direction can take a few steps back and rely on the acting and storytelling. It was good that the film was able to keep the attention of the audience when the idea is so basic. He made construction site drama actually interesting. This sort of writing makes me excited for his next movie World War Z 2. I kinda hope that's not the title but whatever.

Tom Hardy is the only person you see throughout the film and it's his expressions and behavior that really sell him as the lead only actor. Sure there are voiceovers for people that he's talking to, including Tom Holland. The frustration he has when dealing with work and the calmness that he musters during the conversations he has with his son are just spot on. The surprising thing is that Hardy only spent six days on set to film the movie and each shot was in a single take. I doubt there are many actors out there that could pull off a film like this in only one take.

There's a movie that just released a trailer coming out that stars Tom Hardy and has Tom Holland in it called Venom and it reminded me that this film also had those two. Even if the trailer isn't up to stuff at least this film will rest your mind on Hardy being a good actor. Side note, did you know that Hardy chose to do this film in exchange for Knight being the writer of Hardy's show Taboo?

Result: B+ (While other people might get bored because there are no explosions, the film stands on its own two legs)


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