Locke

Where would existential cinema be without cars? No, Culture Whisper is not recommending Fast and Furious No. 19, but up-coming drama 'Locke'. Written and directed by Stephen Knight, whose credits range from Cronenberg's 'Eastern Promises' to the BBC's recent delight 'Peaky Blinders', 'Locke' stars equally versatile actor Tom Hardy.

The film follows construction manager Ivan Locke as he drives from Birmingham to Croydon. It is set resolutely between the confines of Ivan's headlights, and the narrative plays out in real time on screen, a premise that sounds claustrophobic at best, and at worst like a bank holiday jam on the M5. But with Hardy's everyman hero and Knight's everyday scenario, 'Locke' is imbued with an existential quality that elevates the drama. Far from dragging the film into chugging contemplation, it's this that fires an intensity and purpose lacking from Knight's recent Jason Statham vehicle 'Hummingbird'.

The cast list is surprisingly extensive, featuring the vocal talents of Ruth Wilson, Bafta-winner Olivia Colman and rising star Tom Holland. They are heard in a pivotal series of phone calls that don't just punctuate the narrative, but switch the gears of Ivan's story. Within the shell of his vehicle, his life is attacked by these calls. It is a simple conceit, but one that poignantly dramatises the tension between life as an individual experience, and the punctuation of dialled-through interruptions.

'Locke' was applauded at the 2013 Venice Film Festival, where it was screened outside the competition. The viewers' experience is unanimously described as deeply tense, despite the 'one man, one car' set-up. Perhaps this sense of urgency derives from the brief 8-night shoot, or simply the tight structure and magnetic star.

Hardy's performance has none of the icy veneer of Gosling's 'Driver' nor the glamour of his own super-villain Bane in Christopher Nolan's 'The Dark Knight Rises'. As Ivan he is vital, varied, and speaks with a very convincing Welsh accent. Hardy is no longer one to watch; his career has ascended through that rare phenomenon, the critically acclaimed blockbuster. After performances in 'Inception', 'Bronson', 'The Dark Knight Rises' and 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' it's safe to say we have watched and will keep watching.