The coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing, continuing to affect everyone's lives in different ways. With that in mind, some may feel it's too soon to make a movie exploring this particular point in time, but that didn't deter director Doug Liman from putting together Locked Down as the COVID-19 outbreak took a turn for the worse. Obviously, the film is not looking to serve up classic Hollywood escapism, but it did have the appeal of Chiwetel Ejiofor and Anne Hathaway teaming together to pull off a jewel heist, which had the potential to be entertaining. Unfortunately, the end result is more of a mixed bag. Locked Down is an average drama that relies on the strengths of its two lead actors to help elevate it above its various shortcomings.
In Locked Down, Ejiofor and Hathaway star as Paxton and Linda, a couple at the end of their relationship who are only still living together because of lockdown orders in the U.K. The two attempt to navigate their new situations as COVID-19 spreads around the globe; Paxton is furloughed from his job, while Linda is forced to fire employees from her company as they look to cut costs. Through his boss Malcolm (Ben Kingsley), Paxton (using a fake identity) accepts work transporting goods and materials from places that are closing during the lockdown. One of his stops is a department store that's part of Linda's corporation. Dissatisfied with their current state of life, Paxton and Linda design a plan to steal an expensive diamond from the department store so they can become rich.
One of the bigger issues with Locked Down is it takes a while for the narrative to come into focus. As a result, the film spends much of the first and second acts meandering along, which ittedly does reflect viewers' lives during the pandemic. At the same time, this doesn't necessarily make for particularly engaging storytelling, and it's possible some may lose interest as the movie progresses through its nearly two-hour runtime. The script, written by Steven Knight, does deliver some relatable humor that audiences will appreciate (Zoom calls freezing, toilet paper hoarders, etc.), but that isn't really enough to make up for the lack of a discernible hook that hamstrings Locked Down most of the time. It's almost as if the film re the jewel heist element far too late.
Considering how and when Locked Down was made, there were clear limitations with regard to the technical filmmaking. This certainly doesn't boast the scope of some of Liman's previous efforts, but that approach still works for the purposes of this story. If anything, Locked Down is an example of how creative directors can be in this time to continue making movies, as Liman incorporates Skype and Zoom to have actors play off each other and perform scenes together despite being separated. It isn't anything that hasn't been done before, but it is effective and efficient. And Liman is able to craft a fun third act fueled by the daring diamond heist. While these sequences aren't as extravagant as something like Ocean's Eleven (for obvious reasons), they're still engaging to watch on a vicarious level.
The saving grace for Locked Down is that Ejiofor and Hathaway are both excellent at their craft. The film is very performance-driven, relying on its actors to carry it on their shoulders. The two leads are up for the task, fleshing out their characters so audiences have an idea of who they were before the pandemic. They both capture the frustration and desperation people feel right now, and they also have a natural chemistry with each other. It's easy to buy them as a longtime couple nearing the end. Given the nature of Locked Down, the ing cast doesn't factor in that much, though Kingsley makes the most of his screen time as the religious Malcolm. He's an entertaining presence in his brief scenes.
Locked Down feels like an attempt to capitalize on "the moment" far too quickly, which ultimately hurts the film. It may have benefitted from waiting until after the pandemic has ed, when the filmmakers would have had more time to reflect on the whole situation and come up with something that packs more of a punch. Even with the strong lead performances, Locked Down doesn't have much to offer, outside of serving as a harrowing reminder of what the world continues to go through. There was potential here for something special, but it doesn't live up to that promise.
Locked Down starts streaming on HBO Max on January 14, 2021. It runs 118 minutes and is rated R for language throughout and some drug material.
Let us know what you thought of the film in the comments!
Locked Down is a romantic comedy-heist film set during the COVID-19 pandemic. Directed by Doug Liman, the movie stars Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor as a couple on the brink of separation. They are compelled to reconcile their differences when they devise a plan to execute a high-stakes heist at a high-end London department store. Written by Steven Knight, the film addresses themes of love and resilience amidst unprecedented challenges.
