#19: Locke

There's something truly special about Locke. There's only one face shown in the entire movie: Tom Hardy. Vocal contributions from top Brits such as Olivia Colman, Ruth Wilson, and (eternal Moriarty) Andrew Scott allow dialog within the confines of one vehicle, and the three turn in surprisingly deep performances despite a lack of screen presence.

At a mere 85 minutes, not a single moment is wasted or thrown away. While at times pacing is slow, it's a methodical movie and the plot line is very deserving of the development. While the film is well directed and written by Steven Knight, it's heavily reliant upon Hardy. Despite a very real cold and a rigorous filming schedule (done over a few nights as filming occurred chronologically and repeatedly), he gives a true tour de force.

In many ways, Locke is a modern take on a broadway show, although it lacks the intensity of a few others of its kind, namely The Sunset Limited (more on that later). Every bit of acting is based around handsfree bluetooth in a car. It doesn't get much more 21st century than that. The uniquely claustrophobic atmosphere of a long drive on the highway is the perfect set piece for a close to perfect movie.