David Thomson and Locke

 

There are a couple of pages in David Thomson's How to Watch a Movie that discussed one of my all time favourite films: Locke. The fact that he devotes so much space to such a small film is unprecedented. In the chapter "Alone Together" he says " How can there be a movie with only a single character on screen who never gets out of his car". He goes on to describe the film and, about Ivan Locke played  by Tom Hardy he says "He is inventive, brilliant, sympathetic without being ingratiating". He goes on "Locke is written and directed by Steven Knight, and I give him great credit" and finally "No film I've seen in recent years is more eloquent on where we are now, and on how alone we feel". 

I found it hard to imagine that such a respected film critic and historian would have the same feelings about this film as I do. So I have to say this has been quite emotional. This is what I said back in 2014.

I always post my film reviews in threes. So it takes something special to deserve it's own listing. And Locke was indeed very special. Not only is it an excellent movie in it's own right, but I cannot remember a film that portrays so well it's theme of construction. And I cannot recall a movie that has the industry that was my career as a dominant part of the story.

We only see one actor on screen, and it reminded me of Ryan Reynolds in Buried. But this time the lead is in the confines of a car instead of a coffin underground. Tom Hardy as Ivan (the Slavic equivalent of John will mean something to a few people) Locke is absolutely brilliant. On his journey south, he communicates by phone to a number of characters. But it is his conversations with Donal, his assistant very well played by Andrew Scott, that had me enthralled. Locke is the Construction Director on a huge 55 story building where the next day there is the biggest concrete pour in Europe (apart from nuclear or military projects) involving 218 truckloads of concrete from a number of plants.

So what is he doing driving away? Donal is in a panic, Locke's boss is apoplectic and his family cannot understand why he is missing a big football game on TV. The development of the story makes for an intriguing drama. All the other actors are superb even though we only hear their voices. I'm sure Ruth Wilson was doing an impression of Olivia Coleman and vice versa.

The critics cannot make up their mind what is Locke's job. Site Manager, Site Foreman, Construction Foreman, Construction Manager, Construction Engineer the list goes on. If they had listened, he is the Construction Director which would be quite normal running a project of this size. Locke is the Construction Director from heaven. Softly spoken and calm but highly authoritative and knowledgeable, he would be a dream to work for. This is the good modern face of construction and what credit he does the industry. Every budding foreman, engineer or manager should watch, learn and copy.

SPOILER ALERT. Locke tells Donal (and his boss) he can manage everything by phone. Poor Donal has to cope with checking concrete mixes at the plants, confirming road closures and checking rebar and shuttering. All have their complications (no different to most jobs). The boss has to cope with head office in Chicago and his family have to cope with his not coming home.

There are a couple of things I missed from this review. One was that the cast, as well as Andrew Scott, included Ruth Wilson and Olivia Colman. Amazing being in the same film. This is my fourth book by David Thomson and it wont be my last.