NZIFF 2014 opening night review: Locke – 5 stars

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It is testament to the strength of the NZIFF that last night’s opening night was packed tight. Every year it grows in popularity as Aucklanders embrace the festival with gusto. This years beautiful, exciting and impressive cinema is a mouthwatering spread of cultural delights and We’ve barely begun delving into this years festival guide. We’ll have TDBs picks up by the end of the week.

Locke was the opening night film I selected and what a fascinating tense piece of drama it was. The soul crushing nightmare of being forced to have a child with a person you don’t want to have a child with is a narrative rarely explored from the male perspective, and the unfolding personal crisis the lead actor faces as he juggles confessing his affair to his wife with a massive construction job while racing to the side of the women he’s had the affair with for the birth of their child sucks you in. The emotional range of Tom Hardy in such a confined acting space is remarkable.

The intimacy of the constant shot structure being around his car as he drives forces a closeness that cleverly keeps the attention. It is an interesting must see this festival.

5 stars 

1 COMMENT

  1. Looking forward to it . Nice for me to contemplate something positive for a change . Cheers TDB / Martyn Bradbury .

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