LOCKE [2013]

Steven Knight has a knack for gritty character study thrillers, so I was eager to see how he'd handle a single setting/single actor film with Locke.
We're given a glimpse into Ivan Locke's entire life from within the seat of his car, as his whole world falls apart through a series of distressing phone calls.  I wasn't sure Tom Hardy could carry an entire film on his own, nevermind not having the luxury of changing backdrops, but he surprisingly pulls it off with intimate grace.  Knight's camera work is lit by the stark street night lights and bypassing cars which paints a feeling of depression and despair onto the increasingly daunting atmosphere.
It's the type of film that's most effective in a solitary environment to make best of the film's lonely atmosphere and from there you'll find yourself wanting to scream as Locke does.

3 invisible fathers out of 5

REDEMPTION [2013]

aka HUMMINGBIRD

Jason Statham has been on a long run of exceptionally shitty movies so the dark, dirty and somewhat snarky Redemption (Hummingbird in the UK) is a welcome addition to his filmography.

Steven Knight (writer of Dirty Pretty Things & Eastern Promises) writes and directs this gritty crime-drama, paving the way for Statham's most impressive job as a genuine actor yet.  While the revenge/vigilante premise is nothing to write home about, it's the characters that matter here.  Both Statham and Agata Buzek insert the perfect amount of chemistry, heart and drama into this otherwise cold-hearted and calloused film.  The rhythm of the film is a little bit off and there's some questionable moments but in the end I found it to be pleasing nonetheless.

3½ red dresses out of 5