locke - ivan locke - played by tom hardy in this unique film
he is the only actor seen - the film based entirely in a car at night
a man is seen walking off a large building site and getting into a car
noted - a late-model bmw estate - so this man seems to be a professional
drives off - indicators on for a left turn - the red light goes green
but he remains transfixed - the truck behind sounds a loud horn
and startled he suddenly changes to a right turn and speeds off
then the first phone call (hands-free) is received from bethan
she a bit distraught - she is about to give birth - ah - he dad
but mysteriously she questions - have you told your wife yet?
he says he is about to and advises he will be there in 2 hours
then a flurry of phone calls as he organises the next day's work
seems he is a project manager on a large build at a critical point
tomorrow is the biggest concrete pour in europe outside of military
his assistant gerald pretty well freaking out when told he is in charge
but an assurance from locke that he will give him all the help he can
then the call home to the wife - after first checking in with his 2 sons
some game of football on tv he is supposed to be watching with them
katrina likewise freaks out when locke confesses his one night stand
he pleading his case - a one off mistake - but she hangs up distraught
and so it goes - calls coming and going as he deals with all 3 crises
and added to that - he has a phantom passenger in the back seat
locke strangely seen talking to his father as though he is there
but no love lost - seems dad abandoned his wife and son at birth
so in turn locke junior has determined not to behave similarly
and thus the decision to take responsibility for his actions
bethan pushes him for an 'i love you' - he not interested
he tries to convince katrina to agree to talking it all over
but she is devastated and has taken advice from her sisters
'there's a big gap between never and once only' is the mantra
and so she announces he is not to return home - it's all over
this followed by a phone call from his boss to say he is sacked
but locke assures him he will continue to assist setting up the day
and so he does - proving again his trustworthiness and integrity
this point of difference shouted to his rear seat phantom passenger
meanwhile the hospital is also in regular contact with baby updates
and a perceived but slight shift in locke's attitude to the mother
clever stuff - at times feeling more like live theatre than a film
the regular passages of electronic/jazz/chill music welcome
i'm totally believing in this most unusual mix of scenarios
a man, a car, a phone, a dysfunctional past and 3 crises
in one sense hard to believe his wife has ditched him
but - infidelity can result in uninvited life changes
and that really is what the film seems to be about
locke's life completely transformed in this trip
acted superbly by tom hardy - a tour de force
and as the text on the film poster also suggests -
compelling, genuinely moving and suspenseful
reverberates with the power of big universal themes
i'd agree with that - and the ending - new baby - new life
