Locke
(2013/Lionsgate Blu-ray)
Picture:
B+ Sound: B+ Extras: C Film: B+
Locke
is an engaging 2013 British Film that stars Tom Hardy in a role as
you have never seen him before in the role of Ivan Locke - who is a
successful businessman dedicated to his loving wife and children.
But tonight, everything will change, as a series of phone calls
trigers a shocking chain of events that turn Ivan's seemingly perfect
life upside down. Taking place entirely in a car and featuring voice
talents by Tom Holland, Olivia Colman, Andrew Scott, Ruth Wilson, Ben
Daniels, and Alice Lowe the film is an interesting experience that
shows off both Hardy's talent as an actor and Steven Knight's
strength as a filmmaker.
PLOT
SPOILERS AHEAD:
The
day before he must supervise a massive concrete pour in Birmingham,
construction foreman Ivan Locke learns that Bethan, a co-worker with
whom he had a one-night stand seven months ago, has gone into
premature labour. He decides to abandon his family, with whom he
planned to watch an important football match, as well as his job, in
order to drive to London to be with Bethan during childbirth.
Solely
starring Hardy, communications with other actors are left to nicely
script phone conversations with his wife Katrina to confess his
infidelity, and Bethan to reassure her during her labour. Locke's
decision is revealed to be a reaction to his own father, who
abandoned him as a child, and whom he did not meet until he was in
his early twenties.
Over
the course of the two-hour drive to London, he is fired from his job
and kicked out of his house by his wife. He also successfully talks
his assistant Donal through preparing the pour despite several major
setback
END
OF PLOT SPOILERS:
From
a behind the scenes perspective, the shooting was in real time, and
they only took breaks to change the camera's memory cards. The film
definitely wouldn't have worked so well with a lesser actor but Hardy
owns this movie and really makes you believe that he is feeling these
emotions. With a budget of less than two million, Locke is an
impressive thrill ride that is miles away from the competition.
The
picture and sound on this disc are great for the Blu-ray format and
boast a 1080p 1.85 X 1 high definition transfer with a powerful,
lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix in English. There are also English and
Spanish subtitles on the disc and English SDH.
The
Ultraviolet contains a compressed version of the film that looks fine
on your tablet or smart phone but is miles away from the sharpness of
the Blu-ray. Extras on the disc include Ordinary Unraveling: Making
Locke Featurette and an Audio Commentary by Writer/Director Steven
Knight.
If
you are a Tom Hardy fan or a fan of isolation pieces then this is the
film for you!
-
James Harland Lockhart V
www.vimeo.com/jamielockhart
