Locke (2013) Ratings: Genre 4/5 | Overall 3.5/5

Though every director takes a challenge when they decide to do their movie project even how big or small it is, some scripts vastly differ from the majority and they pose a stronger challenge of some sort. This is a fact for most movies that are script driven and even tougher when it comes to movies that has only one actor in them. In recent past Buried (2010) and All is Lost (2013) were fine examples of such films. And 2013 brings another fine completely script driven movie from UK which is Locke. It sure is a very different movie and maybe even if you kept the whole movie thing apart and listened to it over radio there is a fair chance that you will still get the whole thing right and enjoy it. The reason why I say so is because the only probable cause this script makes a movie because there is acting and cinematography. But it will be equally promising as a sound act only.

Tom Hardy who is the one and only actor in this movie plays the character of Ivan Locke who is a construction engineer. In the brink of a historical construction event he decides to ditch it and go somewhere else to fix a mistake he have made. When he gets in to his car and starts driving he realize that there will be many challenges he have to complete to save the day and none of them will be easy as they sound.

Tom does a brilliant performance here no doubt. As he is the only living thing the viewers will see he has to be compelling to keep the show going. Ivan’s character is strong, intelligent, brave and calm. All these characteristics are portrayed while Ivan is seated in one place and only by talking to other people over the phone. It is too hard for me to explain how this is even possible in a movie but imagine how it could have being for Tom Hardy and Steven Knight (director/screenwriter) to make it happen. But the wonderful thing is as a movie it truly works and the viewer is anchored in one place giving only hints to imagine the things that must be going on in another place. It’s kind of unfair too for us as viewers as we always expect to see what’s going on but Locke doesn’t give us that luxury. But it truly makes the viewer to become this character and synch in to his situation like no other movie does.

Locke is a beautiful drama that tells a strong story about accepting responsibility in the most daring of times and parenthood. And it does is staying in one place using one actor. How fascinatingly fantastic!

Genre: Drama
Director: Steven Knight

The World’s End (2013) Rating 3/5

When Simon Pegg and Nick Frost come together in a movie it means only one thing. It will make your laughing organs go nuts! It’s not hard to derive at this conclusion if you have seeing Shaun of the Dead (2004) Hot Fuzz (2007) and Paul (2011). They were all brilliantly funny and have different yet very enjoyable plots to them. And The World’s End is nothing less.

Here five childhood friends, four are well established in their lives by the age of 40 but one still struggling to escape the teenage fantasies living a failure get together to finish an unfinished drinking marathon back in their home town. While moving from one pub to the other evoking old memories they experience something quite unusual and scary. From this point on wards they have to choose between the drinking marathon and the marathon to save their lives. But still one guy finds it hard to choose between priorities. And you can guess who.

This is an apocalyptic comedy. At one point it reminds me of This is the End (2013) which was another fine comedy where set of friends realize that the world is coming to and end while they were having a blast at a party. And this also has its creepy yet fine twist to the whole plot coming your way when you least expect it. However from the flow of the story even without this twist it would have being equally entertaining. And when speaking about the plot it’s impractical and dumb no doubt. But strangely impractical and dumb is what makes this whole movie works and its pretty good.

By no means this a not a masterpiece but when it comes to the ample number of empty and baseless comedies we see these days this one is worth the time spent. It relieves you out of stupid adult jokes and nudity that most comedies rely on and gives you something different to laugh about. Good job Edgar Wright.

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013) Rating 2.5/5

I have never seeing the TV show but I like this character. It’s played really well by Steve Coogan and sometimes it takes a while to catch up with his witty lines. And there are plenty of things to laugh about in this one.

Alan is a famous local radio jockey who works in a radio station which is taken over by a large group. With all the reshaping, re organizing and cutting chopping of the new shape he and his veteran buddies sense that man power cut is inevitable. While all this drama Alan finds himself in an unexpected situation leading to laying off one of his buddies Pat Farrell. Things get even weird when Pat decides to take revenge from the people who fired him and Alan gets caught in the middle of a crazy jam.

Though the plot sounds like a real serious one it is not really. And everything sums up to a big laugh and most of the time it is better than average. If you’re looking to enjoy a light weight comedy on a lazy weekend this movie can do justice to that thought. But beyond that it is just ordinary.