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 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 314 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	Your Score
7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 314 Ratings

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LOCKE

Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: April 25, 2014

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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Awards & Rankings

46	#46 Best Movie of 2014
64	#64 Most Discussed Movie of 2014

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Critic Reviews

100

Philadelphia Inquirer 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

Wall Street Journal 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

Arizona Republic Bill Goodykoontz

May 1, 2014

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

Variety 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

San Francisco Chronicle 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

amheretojudge

May 1, 2018

like father, like son..

Locke The accuracy, morality and the strong will power that is implanted in the protagonist made it essential for it to converse alone to its shrink which is brought into limelight through its complex issues with his journey. Stephen Knight; the writer-director,like father, like son..

Locke

The accuracy, morality and the strong will power that is implanted in the protagonist made it essential for it to converse alone to its shrink which is brought into limelight through its complex issues with his journey. Stephen Knight; the writer-director, focuses on building up the character's perspective to a point where every fictional theory justifies its rational or irrational decision. The execution is quite smart especially when it had to fill those little gaps between the calls, that helps the audience breathe and account in, the emotion and the thought processing questions raised in here. Tom Hardy is stunning in here mainly because the equation projected with each individual characters is never piled up in here, by his performance even though this chaotic night has a strong effective impact on him (his character shows the affection of the writer towards it). Locke is a rare cinematic feature, that resembles a lot with an old classic theatrical play, as its originality and soul not only touches the audience but communicates easily with them.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

drlowdon

Mar 28, 2016

With the entire of the film featuring one man sitting in a car talking on his (hands free) mobile phone Locke lives and dies by the quality of its script and the performance of Tom Hardy, and fortunately both are excellent. Admittedly there are a couple of moments where the sentimentality isWith the entire of the film featuring one man sitting in a car talking on his (hands free) mobile phone Locke lives and dies by the quality of its script and the performance of Tom Hardy, and fortunately both are excellent. Admittedly there are a couple of moments where the sentimentality is arguably layed on a little too thick but writer and director Steven Knight creates a meaningful and emotional tale in less than and hour and a half and shows that you don't need to spend hundreds, or even tens, of millions to make a great film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ydnar4

Feb 20, 2015

Tom Hardy is one of the few actors around today who just seem like they can do no wrong. Locke is a film that takes place entirely in a car. Hardy is the only character that is physically in the film, all the other character are just voices that he talks to on the phone as he drives. Hardy'sTom Hardy is one of the few actors around today who just seem like they can do no wrong. Locke is a film that takes place entirely in a car. Hardy is the only character that is physically in the film, all the other character are just voices that he talks to on the phone as he drives. Hardy's character Ivan Locke is a very successful construction manager who is about to begin his biggest project, but during this hour and twenty minute drive his personal and professional life fizzle over the conversations he has on the phone. Locke is certainly not the most exciting film I've ever seen but it is original. Tom Hardy may be the only actor I would watch in this role and of course, he's great in this film.… 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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