Set almost entirely on a highway in a car where a man is coming home, the film revolves Ivan Locke as he talks with various people where his life starts to shatter by not just events around him but also things that would threaten his own career as a contractor. It is a film with a simple premise where a lot of it has Ivan Locke returning home from work as he talks to his wife, his two teenage sons, co-workers, and other people as things start to unravel during the course of an entire night as he is on a highway driving home. Even as he is on a highway driving where he also copes with the invisible ghost that is his father whom he’s had a tense relationship with as it adds to the drama. There are a lot of monologues and such that writer/director Steven Knight has written as well as a lot of dialogue that play into the dramatic tension as it adds to Ivan’s own plight.
Knight’s direction does have some style as it opens with Ivan overlooking a construction site, taking off his boots, and entering his car as it’s one of the rare shots of the film of Ivan outside of the car as his face isn’t shown. Shot on the M6 motorway from the middle of England to the borders of Scotland, Knight does use some wide shots to get a look into the locations yet much of the direction emphasizes on close-ups and medium shots to play into the action in and out of the car with cars passing by. Notably as there’s cameras in certain areas in and around the car that focuses on Ivan’s conversations on the phone as there is always a shot of a computer screen in the car’s dashboard. The car, that is the BMW X5, is a character in the film as it play into Ivan’s own sense of isolation as his life would unravel through each phone call whether it is his sons calling him about the football game, co-workers talking about an upcoming concrete pour, and other issues through the span of nearly the film’s 85-minute running time. Overall, Knight crafts a riveting and evocative film about a man coming home as he’s on the road having phone conversation as his life unravels.
Cinematographer Harris Zambarloukous does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography as its usage of low-key lights for scenes in the car and available light from other cars add to the tense atmosphere of the film. Editor Justine Wright does amazing work with the editing with the stylish usage of superimposed dissolves and jump-cuts to play into the rhythm of the drive and the drama that unfolds in the car. Costume designer Nigel Egerton does terrific work with the costumes from the sweater and shirt that Ivan wears as it play into a man who is of great importance but also falling apart. Hair/makeup designer Audrey Doyle does nice work with the look of Ivan as he becomes disheveled during the course of the film as his life starts to unravel.
Visual effects supervisor James Devlin does fantastic work with the visual effects as it is largely minimal bits as backdrops and such for a few of the scenes on the road. Sound designer Ian Wilson does excellent work with the sound in capturing the sounds on the road as well as the way phone conversations are presented. The film’s music by Dickon Hinchliffe is superb for its dream-like guitar work and bits of ambient synthesizer to play into the intensity of the drama.
The casting by Shaheen Baig is wonderful as it features the voice work of Alice Lowe and Silas Carson as a couple of people working at a hospital, Kirsty Dillon as the wife of one of Ivan’s co-workers, Lee Ross as a police official, Danny Webb as a political official, Ben Daniels as a co-worker of Ivan in Gareth, and Andrew Scott as Ivan’s assistant Donal who is trying to help Ivan with all of the shit that needs to be sorted out. Tom Holland and Bill Milner are excellent in their respective roles as the voices of Ivan’s sons in Eddie and Sean who are calling their father over a football game as well as the family drama that is unfolding. Ruth Wilson is brilliant as the voice of Ivan’s wife Katrina who receives some horrific news that acts as a source of chaos between her and Ivan. Olivia Colman is amazing as the voice of Bethan as a woman Ivan knows as she has news of her own that would add to Ivan’s unraveling world.
Finally, there’s Tom Hardy in a phenomenal performance as Ivan Locke as a contractor who is driving home as he calls many on his car phone where Hardy is restrained in some parts as well as getting upset that include these invisible conversations with his late father. It is Hardy in one of his great performance as a man that is trying to deal with the chaos of his life as well as cope with his own faults as it is just intoxicating to watch.
Locke is a sensational film from Steven Knight that features an incredible performance from Tom Hardy. Along with its ensemble voice cast, ravishing visuals, an eerie music score, and a simple yet chilling premise. The film is definitely a mesmerizing suspense-drama that follows a man driving home as he deals with phone calls where he copes with events in his life as they would unravel in the span of an entire night. In the end, Locke is a phenomenal film from Steven Knight.
© thevoid99 2021
Directed by Matthew Warchus and written by Stephen Beresford, Pride is the story about the British miner’s strike of 1984-1985 where miners reluctantly get the support of gay and lesbian activists who would raise money for the miners. The film is a dramatic account on how the gay and lesbian community get involved as well as display the act of solidarity during one of Britain’s most tumultuous periods. Starring Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Paddy Considine, Dominic West, Andrew Scott, George MacKay, Joseph Gilgun, Menna Trussler, and Ben Schnetzer. Pride is a heartfelt and compelling film from Matthew Warchus.
The British miners’ strike of 1984-1985 was an event in Britain that had miners going against the rule of its then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher over pit closures and pay restraints. It was around this time that the National Union of Mineworkers would receive support but from the most unlikely group of people in the gay and lesbian community who saw the same amount of prejudice and abuse they had received from the police as they offered their own support as an act of solidarity. The film is a dramatic account of this event which is considered a watershed moment for the British gay and lesbian movement but also for the miners strike as well where it took a ragtag group of people who go to a small town in Wales to offer their support and raise money for the miners.
Stephen Beresford’s screenplay talks about the formation of the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners campaign that started in a gay bookshop by a few activists where they just wanted to donate whatever money to help miners who are on strike and can’t pay the bills. While NUM was at first unwilling to take their money, it was through a small faction in this small Welsh mining town that said yes but unaware of who they’re getting money from as the locals are aghast of who is giving them donations. Still, one of the miners’ local organizers in Dai Donovan (Paddy Considine) would invite them as does the leader of the women’s support group in Hefina Headon (Imelda Staunton) where it took a while for the locals to accept them. Even as the LGSM would find ways to raise more money and awareness despite the fact that there is a lot happening in their own community as it relates to the AIDS crisis as one of them is HIV positive yet has found a way to curb his disease.
Matthew Warchus’ direction doesn’t really go for a lot of style except for a few scenes shot entirely on hand-held to give it a cinema verite feel. Yet, it does maintain a simplicity in not just the compositions but also the setting as it is shot not just in parts of London and its nearby suburbs but also in small towns in Wales to make it feel very real. Warchus would also find something ordinary and make it special as the film does have subplots as it relates to not just miners’ wives trying to do what they can for their husband but also find themselves in their own right. The direction also play into the realities of what is going on in Britain with footage of the news as well as what the tabloids were printing as a way to cause problems between the two factions. Even as a miner’s widow would create further problems upsetting her brother-in-law who is one of the organizers in the strike. Though it’s third act does give the film a bit of a different tone as it relates to not a lot of realities in both the mining and gay community. It does serve as some major moments in a few of its characters as well the fact that these two very different communities come together where they were able to make a difference in a way that is bigger than themselves. Overall, Warchus crafts a lively and engaging film about gay and lesbian activists helping striking miners in their time of need during the 1980s British miners’ strike.
Cinematographer Tat Radcliffe does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography from the vibrant look of London in its clubs and the gay bookshop that the LGSM organizers frequent at to the more drenched yet grey-like color of the small town in Wales. Editor Melanie Oliver does fantastic work with the editing as it does play into style with its usage of jump-cuts as well as some montage-based cutting. Production designer Simon Bowles, with set decorator Liz Griffiths and supervising art director Mark Raggett, does amazing work with the look of the bookshop the LGSM organizers meet as well as some of the clubs they go to and the community hall at the small Welsh town where the miners meet to have meetings. Costume designer Charlotte Walter does brilliant work with the costumes from the colorful look of the members of the LGSM to the more grey and casual look of the miners and their wives.
Hair/makeup designer Nadia Stacey does terrific work with the look of the hairstyles and makeup of some of the members of the LGSM as well as create a straight-laced look for the miners and their families. Visual effects supervisor Hugh MacDonald does nice work with some of the film‘s minimal visual effects which is just essentially set dressing to play into what London looked like in the 1980s. Sound designer Blair Jollands does superb work with the sound in the way some of the parties sound as well as the sparse yet eerie tension heard in a key meeting late in the film. The film’s music by Christopher Nightingale is wonderful for its mixture of low-key orchestral music and guitar-based rock music to play into the period of the times while music supervisor Nick Angel creates a fun soundtrack filled with a lot of the music of the times from the Smiths, Shirley & Company, Bronski Beat, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Culture Club, Dead or Alive, and Pete Shelley as well as some folk-based pieces from Pete Seeger and Billy Bragg.
The casting by Fiona Weir is phenomenal as it include some notable small roles from Matthew Flynn and Monica Dolan as Joe’s parents, Olwen Medi as Gethin’s mother, Kyle Rees and Jack Baggs as a couple of young miners who go to Jonathan in getting dance lessons so they can get girls, Rhodri Meilir as the miner/co-organizer Martin James, Liz White and Nia Gwynne as a couple of miners’ wives, and the trio of Freddie Fox, Chris Overton, and Joshua Hill as members of the LGSM. Other noteworthy small roles include Karina Fernandez and Jessie Cave as two LGSM members who want to form a splinter group known as Lesbians Against Pit Closures while Lisa Palfrey is terrific as the widow Maureen Barry who isn’t keen on having LGSM at the town as she tries to create trouble only to get the ire of her brother-in-law Cliff. Menna Trussler is wonderful as the elderly widow Gwen who would be the first to take LGSM’s donation as well as find common ground with the lesbians. Andrew Scott is fantastic as LGSM co-founder Gethin who also runs the bookshop with his partner Jonathan as he admits to his reluctance in returning to Wales due to his relationship with his mother where he would eventually find the courage to see her again.
Jessica Gunning is excellent as Martin’s wife Sian who would find her voice in the activism as she would also the person to help the LGSM and miner’s union find common ground. Dominic West is brilliant as the HIV-stricken Jonathan who isn’t sure about what his friends are doing as he helps them while showing the young miners how to dance as a way to pick up women. Joe Gilgun is superb as LGSM co-founder Mike Jackson who would introduce the young Joe to activism as well as be the one to create banners for the cause. Faye Marsay is amazing as Stephanie Chambers who is the lone lesbian of the group who has a wild look but finds herself having more common ground with the miners’ wives where she takes a maternal role for Joe. George MacKay is great as Joe as a college student who finds himself taking on the cause to help the miners while trying to hide his sexuality from his parents where he finally makes a big decision as an adult.
Ben Schnetzer is incredible as the late LGSM co-founder Mark Ashton who is the group’s leader that rallies everyone around to the cause as he sees similarities in the struggles the miners are facing along with the gay and lesbian community as it’s just this riveting breakthrough. Paddy Considine is marvelous as local miners’ leader Dai Donovan who would be the first to meet the LGSM as he is taken aback by them at first only to see that they’re just cool people. Imelda Staunton is radiant as Hefina Headon as the head activist for the miners’ wives who is one of the first to welcome in the LGSM as she sees what they’ve done for the cause as well as realize how fun they are. Finally, there’s Bill Nighy in a remarkable performance as Cliff Barry as a miner who had seen a lot as he is one of the few who welcome the LGSM immediately as well as know what is at stake as it relates to the well-being of the miners and their families.
Pride is a sensational film from Matthew Warchus. Featuring a great ensemble cast, awesome music, and a compelling story that is based on the real British miners’ strike of the mid-1980s. It’s a film that doesn’t just explore a moment in time but also a moment where people came together just to help one another no matter what sexual preference they are. In the end, Pride is a phenomenal film from Matthew Warchus.
© thevoid99 2016
Based on the novels of Ian Fleming, SPECTRE is the story of James Bond trying to uncover a criminal organization that is threatening the world just as the MI6 is under threat of shutting down. Directed by Sam Mendes and screenplay by John Logan, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Jez Butterworth from a story by Logan, Purvis, and Wade, the film has Bond encounter the organization that puts the world into chaos as Daniel Craig plays Agent 007 for the fourth time. Also starring Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Monica Bellucci, Dave Bautista, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Jesper Christensen, Andrew Scott, and Ralph Fiennes as M. SPECTRE is a thrilling yet exciting film from Sam Mendes.
The film plays into not just the recent events James Bond had encountered with mysterious organization known as Quantum but it all finally ties together when he not only uncovers what Quantum is part of but who is running this secret organization. Even as it relates to not just Bond’s past but also the emergence of a new world order as MI6 is being shut down by a new organization that wants to put the entire world under total surveillance. For Bond, this new criminal threat as well as the possibility of MI6 being shut down not only prompts him to go at it alone against the advice of M but also lead him to clues as it relates to a man named Franz Oberhauser (Christoph Waltz) whom Bond had known as a child and thought had died.
The film’s script doesn’t just play with Bond coping with aspects of his past and the new threats he is dealing with. He also is forced to go alone as MI6 are unable to be directly involved as M, Q (Ben Whishaw), Moneypenny (Naomie Harris), and Bill Tanner (Rory Kinnear) are all under surveillance from this new organization that is to replace MI6 where M had to fight to keep MI6 going. While Bond would create things that would put MI6 under further scrutiny such as the film’s opening sequence in Mexico City which has him trying to go after an assassin that is related to this secret criminal organization under the orders of the previous M. He would also turn to an old nemesis in Mr. White (Jesper Christensen) who would reveal not just what Quantum had become but asked Bond to protect his daughter in Dr. Madeline Swann (Lea Seydoux) who knows some things about what her father did as she would help Bond.
The script would also play into the growing sense that the world is changing as it makes Bond and M uneasy where the latter has to deal with Max Denbigh aka C (Andrew Scott) who wants to get rid of MI6 for a joint security organization as he believes surveillance on everyone is good for the future. It plays into this conflict of the old ways vs. the new ways where Bond is a representation of the old ways as he is about trying to figure out what is going on and make the decision to pull the trigger if necessary. While M and Bond do agree that their old tactics do have faults, they at least produce results which does prompt the latter to go deeper into what he is trying to uncover and why Oberhauser is alive. Even as it becomes clear about what is trying to do and why he is targeting Bond of all people.
Sam Mendes’ direction is definitely thrilling from the film’s cold open which begins with this intricate and gripping tracking shot where Bond is at the Day of the Dead ceremony in Mexico City as he is watching out for an assassin. It definitely opens the film with a bang while it establishes what Bond is going after and what it will lead him to. Shot in several locations such as Mexico City, Rome, London, Tangiers, and the Austrian Alps, the film does play into the emergence of a new world order emerging where there are several things happening while Bond would travel by himself as he is aware that he’s being watched under the new rules forcing his associates to cover for him. While it is largely a suspense film with lots of action and extravagant set pieces, Mendes does know where to slow things down as well as play into the formula that is often expected with Bond films. There are elements of humor in the film which definitely gives a nice balance to the action as it often comes from Q and Moneypenny while infusing bits of drama and character development into the story.
Notably the relationship between Bond and Dr. Swann as the latter is hesitant to trust Bond but realizes what he is doing while being the one person that could bring some redemption for her father. Mendes’ approach to compositions with its usage of medium shots and close-ups do help build up the drama while the wide shots allow Bond to be wherever he’s at to cope with what he’s facing When the film’s third act takes place in Tangiers where Bond and Dr. Swann with Oberhauser, it is clear that something is up but also there is a lot more that is being revealed. Especially in what he is up to where some of it isn’t surprising but it does have this payoff that Bond is up for a challenge with so much at stake. Overall, Mendes crafts an enthralling and entertaining film about a spy saving the world from an evil criminal organization bent on creating a new world order.
Cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema does brilliant work with the film‘s cinematography from the usage of the exterior lights for scenes set in Rome and London as well as playing up to some of the cold atmosphere of the scenes in the Alps as well as some crafty interior lighting for scenes in Tangiers. Editor Lee Smith does excellent work with the editing as it is straightforward while knowing when not to cut while creating some unique rhythms and jump-cuts for some of the action sequences. Production designer Dennis Gassner, with set decorator Anna Pinnock and supervising art director Chris Lowe, does amazing work with the design of places where Oberhauser conducts his business and meetings as well as Bond‘s home apartment and other rooms such as Q‘s workshop.
Costume designer Jany Temime does nice work with the costumes from the dresses that Dr. Swann and the other women wear to the Tom Ford suits that Bond wears. Hair designer Zoe Tahir and makeup designer Naomi Donne, with prosthetics makeup designer Mark Coulier, do terrific work with look of the characters in terms of the hair and such as well as the look of a character late in the film. Special effects supervisor Chris Corbould, along with visual effects supervisors Steven Begg and Mark Curtis, does fantastic work with the special effects as it relates to some of the action sequences along with some of the hacking devices from Q.
Sound designers Christopher Assells, Ann Scibelli, and Peter Staubi, along with sound editors Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg, do superb work with the sound to play into the many sound effects that occur in the action sequences as well as in some of the film‘s quieter moments to build up its suspenseful moments. The film’s music by Thomas Newman is wonderful for its bombastic orchestral score that play into the action and suspense while knowing when to be low-key for its drama while creating some variations of the franchise’s theme music. The film’s song Writing’s on the Wall by Sam Smith is an OK song that has its moments but Smith’s singing is just terrible.
The casting by Debbie McWilliams and Nicole Schmied is great as it features some notable appearances from Stephanie Sigman as Bond’s date in Mexico and Alessandro Cremona as the assassin Bond goes after in Mexico. Monica Bellucci is wonderful as the assassin’s widow Lucia who would give Bond some crucial information about Oberhauser while Jesper Christensen is terrific in his role as former Quantum figure Mr. White who would also reveal Bond some information as well as urging Bond to protect his daughter. Andrew Scott is fantastic as Max Denbigh aka C as a government official who wants to get rid of MI6 for a new security organization as he brings a smugness that is just fun to hate. Dave Bautista is superb as Oberhauser’s henchman Mr. Jinx as a henchman that doesn’t say anything but uses his actions and power to do the talking as he’s a fun henchman to watch.
Rory Kinnear is excellent as MI6 chief of staff member Bill Tanner who aids M in trying to keep MI6 from being shutdown while Naomie Harris is brilliant as Moneypenny as M’s secretary who helps Bond uncover some information that would relate to the secret organization. Ben Whishaw is amazing as Q as Bond’s quartermaster who provides him with some inventions and stuff while providing some witty banter that is essential to the series. Ralph Fiennes is incredible as M as Bond’s boss who copes with not just Bond’s tactics but also MI6 being shut down where he tries to deal with C and maintain his idea of the old ways.
Lea Seydoux is remarkable as Dr. Madeline Swann as Mr. White’s daughter who joins Bond in uncovering the secrets of this organization while being someone who is very smart and not afraid to throw down where Seydoux brings some depth to the character. Christoph Waltz is phenomenal as Franz Oberhauser as this mysterious man who knows Bond very well as he is the mastermind of this organization where Waltz brings a lot of charm and personality to a villain that could be Bond’s greatest opponent yet while bearing many attributes that is typical of the old ways but reinvent for a new world order. Finally, there’s Daniel Craig in a sensational performance as Agent 007 James Bond as this spy who is trying to save the world from evil where he copes with not just elements of his past but also in maintaining the role that only he knows as it’s changing for an uncertain future. It’s a performance that his Craig not only be the badass and be serious but also display some humor which shows he’s having fun as it’s definitely Craig at his best.
SPECTRE is a marvelous film from Sam Mendes that features Daniel Craig in another winning performance as Agent 007. Along with a great supporting cast that include standout performances from Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, and Ralph Fiennes as well as thrilling action sequences and sprawling technical work from its crew. The film definitely stands as one of the finest films of the James Bond franchise in terms of its entertainment value as well as provide enough intrigue for audiences to be captivated by. In the end, SPECTRE is a riveting and exciting film from Sam Mendes.
James Bond Files: The EON Films: Dr. No - From Russia With Love - Goldfinger - Thunderball - You Only Live Twice - On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Diamonds are Forever - Live and Let Die - The Man with the Golden Gun - The Spy Who Loved Me - Moonraker - For Your Eyes Only - Octopussy - A View to a Kill - The Living Daylights - Licence to Kill - GoldenEye - Tomorrow Never Dies - The World is Not Enough - Die Another Day - Casino Royale - Quantum of Solace - Skyfall - No Time to Die
Non-EON Films: Casino Royale (Climax! TV Episode) - Casino Royale (1967 film) - Never Say Never Again
Bond Documentaries: Bond Girls are Forever - True Bond - Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007
Sam Mendes Films: (American Beauty) - (Road to Perdition) - (Jarhead) - (Revolutionary Road) - (Away We Go) - (1917)
© thevoid99 2015
