Tom Hardy is widely seen as one of the best actors to come out of the UK, and many viewers say he has a rare ability to lift any film he appears in. Whether he is playing a violent villain or a troubled hero, Hardy often becomes the most memorable part of the story.
And there is one film in particular that would be nowhere near as good without Hardy in it. It has a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes and has been praised for being bold, emotional and completely different from most modern dramas. The entire story takes place in one location with Hardy carrying every moment on his own.
Critics called it one of the most daring projects of the last decade, and fans say it proves just how amazing an actor he is.
Despite its small scale, the film has built a huge reputation and is often described as a masterpiece.
It premiered at the Venice Film Festival, earned Hardy major award recognition and has become a favourite with movie fans looking for something original.
The film in question is Locke. It is a 2013 psychological drama written and directed by Steven Knight.
Hardy plays Ivan Locke, a man driving alone at night while handling a series of life-changing phone calls.
He is the only on-screen actor, while the rest of the cast, including Olivia Colman, Ruth Wilson, Andrew Scott, Ben Daniels and Tom Holland, appear only through voice performances.
The film takes place almost entirely inside a BMW X5. It was shot over six nights, with cameras running in real time as Hardy made every phone call.
The other actors phoned in live from a conference room while the sound of the road was captured during filming.
This approach created a tense, confined atmosphere that drives the whole story.
Locke was released in April 2014 and received strong reviews. It grossed $5.1 million worldwide and won Hardy the Best Actor Award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
Viewer reaction has also been extremely positive. One person said: “If there were any doubts that Tom Hardy is one of the best working actors today, Locke provides irrefutable proof that he is. Hardy is absolutely captivating in this role.”
Another added: “This movie is formed by the excellent Tom Hardy performance. It’s that good. I would put it up there with Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird, and Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs.”
A third wrote: “It’s a heart pounding drama featuring one of the best performances of all time. It’s a masterpiece.”
A fourth said: “The film is just incredible. Tom Hardy makes it and everyone should see it.”
Locke is available to buy or rent on Prime Video.
