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Locke is a 2013 British drama film starring Tom Hardy, Olivia Colman, and Ruth Wilson. Directed by Steven Knight, the film takes place entirely within the confines of a car, as construction foreman Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) drives towards London in the middle of the night. The film begins with Ivan leaving his construction site in Birmingham and getting into his car. From there, he makes a series of phone calls that gradually reveal the reason for his trip: a one-night stand with a woman named Bethan has resulted in her going into premature labor, and Ivan feels a sense of obligation to be there for the birth of his child.

Over the course of the film, we see Ivan's personal and professional life unravel as he makes and receives phone calls that reveal the extent to which his actions have impacted the people around him. He speaks to his wife, Katrina (Ruth Wilson), who is understandably upset when she discovers the reason why Ivan is not coming home, and to his sons, who are confused and disappointed by their father's absence. He also speaks to his boss, Donal (Ben Daniels), who is livid when he discovers that Ivan has left the construction site in the middle of a crucial job, and to a coworker, Gareth (Andrew Scott), who is left in charge of the site and struggles to maintain control.

As Ivan drives towards London, he grapples with these various conflicts via phone calls, as well as through internal monologues that reveal his motivations and regrets. Through his conversations, we learn that Ivan is a meticulous and disciplined man who takes pride in his work and his responsibilities. Yet we also see the toll that his sense of duty has taken on his personal life, as his wife and children feel neglected and frustrated by his constant absences and preoccupation with work.

One of the central themes of the film is the tension between duty and personal responsibility. Ivan feels a duty to be there for the birth of his child, but this duty comes at the expense of his responsibilities at work and his obligations to his wife and children. As he grapples with this tension, we see the strain it puts on his relationships and his sense of self-worth.

Another theme of the film is the fragility of human connections. Ivan's relationships with his coworkers, his family, and Bethan are all threatened by his decision to travel to London. Throughout the film, we see the various ways in which these relationships are strained, and how Ivan's absence leaves a void that is difficult to fill.

At its core, Locke is a character study that explores the intricacies of human relationships and the ways in which small decisions can have far-reaching consequences. Tom Hardy delivers a powerful performance as Ivan, conveying a range of emotions through subtle gestures and vocal inflections. The supporting cast is also excellent, particularly Ruth Wilson as Ivan's wife, whose anger and disappointment are palpable over the phone.

The film's unique setting - a car driving down a highway - could have easily become monotonous, but Steven Knight's direction keeps the audience engaged throughout. The use of split-screen phone calls, in which we see Ivan and the person he's talking to at the same time, is particularly effective in conveying the various conflicts and connections that Ivan is dealing with.

Overall, Locke is a gripping and insightful drama that explores the complexities of human relationships and the tensions between duty and personal responsibility. It is a tour-de-force of acting, direction, and writing, and is sure to leave a lasting impression long after the credits roll.

Locke is a 2013 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 83.