Locke

Name: Locke
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Released: April 25, 2014
Duration: 85 min
Rating: 81
Cast: Tom Hardy

2014

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 340 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	Your Score
7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 340 Ratings

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Locke

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Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: April 25, 2014 | R

Starring: Tom Hardy

Summary: Ivan Locke has worked hard to craft a good life for himself. With one phone call, that life will collapse around him.

Director: Steven Knight

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 85 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Steven Rea

May 9, 2014

That is the sum of writer/director Steven Knight's movie: a man, a car, a hands-free mobile device. And it is extraordinary. Read full review

100

Joe Morgenstern

Apr 24, 2014

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. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

May 1, 2014

It is exceptional acting, and Locke is a tremendous piece of filmmaking. Read full review

Leslie Felperin

Sep 17, 2013

This ingeniously executed study in cinematic minimalism has depth, beauty and poise. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Apr 24, 2014

Mr. Knight keeps a fairly steady distance from Ivan — underscoring certain tense passages with tighter close-ups — but moment by moment, with a twitch, a shudder, a look, it’s Mr. Hardy who movingly draws you in, turning a stranger’s face into a life. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

May 1, 2014

Cinema is not about special effects, but about human emotion and a face in close-up. For those in doubt, Locke is the proof. Read full review

The Guardian Xan Brooks

Sep 17, 2013

Full credit to Hardy and Knight for making a film such as Locke. Low-budget film-makers could learn a lot from their method. And yet – having stripped away all but the bare necessities, having reduced the components to a car and a man – they make a classic error of overcompensation. Read full review

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User Reviews

Thegodfatherson

Apr 27, 2014

Locke may be a gritty, hard hitting movie, but it's real highlight is Tom Hardy. Director Steven Knight explores the life of Ivan Locke (played by Tom Hardy) gets a mysterious phone call, which changes his life. Knight never stops the thrills, non stop thrills, with excellent acting by HardyLocke may be a gritty, hard hitting movie, but it's real highlight is Tom Hardy. Director Steven Knight explores the life of Ivan Locke (played by Tom Hardy) gets a mysterious phone call, which changes his life. Knight never stops the thrills, non stop thrills, with excellent acting by Hardy and his amazing accent. Locke is a new movie, something other directors haven't tried before. It's a pulp, thrilling and gritty drama that is worth watching in theatres. Ignore Brick Mansions, The Quiet Ones, The Other Woman and A Haunted House 2 and watch Locke, a well directed and acted movie.… Expand

6 of 8 users found this helpful62

shellview

Oct 4, 2014

Never a fan of Hardy but this is a performance for which the Oscars are made. Brilliant. A man, a car and a mobile phone come together to answer the question: what is "our life sentence". A small morality play that makes us rethink our lives and the paths we take.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Andremax

Sep 6, 2018

The film for itself is spectacular for the simple fact having only one character and background and not being boring. More than it, the plot holds the watcher. It's hard to believe that Tom Hardy took this movie just by himself.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Apr 14, 2016

Locke is pure brilliance in motion. An emotionally powerful and stirring film, Locke really hits home and the struggles our protagonist faces are so incredibly real that it makes you feel serious compassion for him while also hating his guts at the same time. Tom Hardy does brilliantly toLocke is pure brilliance in motion. An emotionally powerful and stirring film, Locke really hits home and the struggles our protagonist faces are so incredibly real that it makes you feel serious compassion for him while also hating his guts at the same time. Tom Hardy does brilliantly to capture this element and really turns in a powerhouse of a performance. The direction from Steven Knight is fantastic, as is the writing which perfectly captures Locke as a person, as well as everyone he talks to on the phone. Though Locke is the only one we ever see, the people on the other end are so well crafted that seeing is not believing here. You get their full emotion and passion through just the phone calls, which is truly impressive. The cinematography here is gorgeous and really does well to capture the claustrophobic setting and feeling of the film, while also just being simply gorgeous at the same time. Overall, Locke is a phenomenal piece of film that showcases both Hardy's acting skill and Knight's skill as a storyteller. This film is something else.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

inaneswine

Nov 14, 2017

While the posters and trailers like to pretend Locke is a thriller, it is actually an intriguing drama. Hardy's performance is fine, even though it took me half the film to work out his accent is supposed to be Welsh (I think), not the muddled Indian one that seemed to be coming out.While the posters and trailers like to pretend Locke is a thriller, it is actually an intriguing drama. Hardy's performance is fine, even though it took me half the film to work out his accent is supposed to be Welsh (I think), not the muddled Indian one that seemed to be coming out. Nonetheless, the film ultimately succeeds with its compelling plot, steady pace and powerful vocal performances from the cast of invisible but well-rounded characters.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

duncan1964

Mar 23, 2015

As an exercise in filming its admirable, but this story of one mans car journey from the Midlands to London seems quite inconsequential. An unusually low key Tom Hardy does well in the lead, even if the Welsh accent was maybe a mistake, but better are the actors on the end of his everAs an exercise in filming its admirable, but this story of one mans car journey from the Midlands to London seems quite inconsequential. An unusually low key Tom Hardy does well in the lead, even if the Welsh accent was maybe a mistake, but better are the actors on the end of his ever ringing mobile, who include Ben Daniels and Olivia Coleman. In the end there really isn't enough drama to sustain this to the end, unless you have an unhealthy interest in concrete… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Kenaz

May 31, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. And for 90 minutes, we try to understand - why Locke is risking everything, destroying his happy existence, when he doesn't actually have to. Very frustrating to watch this. He throws everything away so that he can try to keep a promise, that he doesn't even keep. Complete fail in all areas . . family, job and love child.… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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45	#45 Best Movie of 2014
63	#63 Most Discussed Movie of 2014