‘Locked Down’ a movie for the times
Conceived, filmed and released during pandemic, it’s bizarrely enjoyable
Where: Available: Rating:
Watching the new HBO Max original movie “Locked Down” is a rather enjoyable experience, even if it takes you right back to the early days of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Set in London during England’s initial lockdown, this romantic dramedy-turned-willthey-won’t-they-diamondheist valuable to her employer, and her Zoom calls is “one of the only films to tend to be work-related. That be conceived, written, shot, said, she may be just as unhappy finished and released during as her partner — highlighted the pandemic,” as its production by the fact that the first call notes state. we see her make is a group termination
As you take it in, you have of subordinates her questions, not so much about superiors have deemed not what’s happening on screen crucial enough to stay on during but how it was pulled together the suddenly challenging behind the scenes. economic period.
When did the idea start to She’s smoking again; he’s take hold with the folks who dabbling in opium. They’re arguing made it? over still-hanging holiday When was it shot? tinsel and whether he How long was the shoot? should be allowed to make In order: July; September; bread. and 18 days. Like the bread-making process,
By viewing it, you can guess it’s a mess. how it was shot, with leads On a basic level, however, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Anne “Locked Down” works because Hathaway working on set together this isn’t a movie in which exlovers and most of the other spiral into hate and vitriol. actors — the film is crammed Instead, they clearly still with brief appearances from care for each other, if each in the likes of Stephen Merchant, his or own way and to different Mindy Kaling, Ben Stiller and degrees depending on the moment. Ben Kingsley, along with lessprominent It is one of the ways in names — filming which the movie, which ultimately their scenes via video-conferencing. becomes a little silly, feels very real.
Although the story feels less After Paxton is rehired by focused as “Locked Down” his Christian-but-scheming winds toward its surprisingly boss (Kingsley) and given a high-stakes conclusion, the comically problematic false film certainly feels fresh and identity under which to work hits home in a way most movies several jobs requiring a driver released since March have without a criminal record, his not. and Linda’s professional lives
With respect to skilled director intersect. He is scheduled to Doug Liman (“The Bourne pick up very valuable merchandise Identity,” “Edge of Tomorrow”) from department and writer Steven Knight store Harrods — merchandise (“Peaky Blinders,” “Dirty Pretty under the control of her company Things”), the project’s greatest and that includes a large asset is Ejiofor, who starred in diamond worth millions of 2002’s “Dirty Pretty Things.” pounds.
Admittedly, we’d watch the “12 Due to the fact that she Years a Slave” star read the knows all her company’s and phone book, but he really is the store’s security procedures good here. and that there is a near-perfect
So is Hathaway (“The Devil replica of the gem at the store, Wears Prada,” “The Intern”), Linda is certain it would be although it’s a performance easy for them to pocket the that grows stronger as the proceedings real stone. wear on and her Sure, stealing is wrong, but character becomes further the man who has just acquired frayed by the life she is living. the diamond apparently is a
She plays Linda, a highranking lousy human being. She and executive in a company Paxton each could go their separate dealing in expensive merchandise, ways wealthy, even after and Ejiofor is making a significant pandemic-related Paxton, who is stuck working donation, she figures. as a delivery driver because of a criminal conviction stemming And who knows? Maybe the from the night years ago couple that commits grand when he assaulted a man to theft together gets back together. protect another man. Oh, and by the way, he has been furloughed. “Locked Down” certainly is rough around the edges for a
To make matters worse for movie from a terrific director Paxton, Linda has left him — such as Liman and featuring although not physically, as stars the level of Hathaway they essentially are forced to and Ejiofor, but it’s understandable keep cohabitating in their given the nature of London home. Having lost everything the project. It’s also part of its, else, he has decided well, charm — for lack of a better to part ways with his beloved word. motorcycle, news that stuns “Locked Down” takes us his half-brother, David, and his back to a pretty rotten time — wife, Maria (married couple a time we’ve not yet truly been Dulé Hill and Jazmyn Simon), able to put in the rearview — during a video call. but it has a pretty good time
By contrast, Linda is extremely doing it.
Runtime: Stars (of 4):