LOCKED DOWN

UK/US, 2021, 118 minutes, Colour.

Anne Hathaway, Chiwitel Ejiofor, Dule Hill, Mark Gattis, Ben Kingsley, Ben Stiller, Sam Spruel, Stephen Merchant, Mindy Kaling, Claes Bang, Lucy Boynton.

Directed by Doug Liman.

Locked Down are probably two of the most used words throughout the world in 2020. Audiences looking at the title would be aware of their own experiences of lockdown and possibly curious to see a film on this theme.

Anne Hathaway and Chitiwel Ejiofor portray Linda and Paxton, a couple together for 10 years, he British, she American, their having met in their wild Dakota days but now living in London. In fact, this is a very London film, where the couple are experiencing lockdown in an apartment block in a street in the west of London.

The first 20 minutes or more of the film make audiences experience something of lockdown and their memories of being confined. Whether that was exactly a wise dramatic move is open to question, some audiences rather unwilling to be in lockdown again, even watching a movie about lockdown. A lot of dialogue, a lot of the interaction between Linda and Paxton, their feelings of alienation and irritation with each other. And, of course, up comes Zoom, Paxton checking with his half-brother in New York, and many audiences remembering their Zoom and Skype conversations and communication.

So, where could this drama be going? Perhaps not far because of lockdown!

What emerges is that Paxton has something of a criminal background and is employed as a truck driver – with a cameo by Ben Kingsley at his comically sinister boss, religious but also rather bent according to the law. There is a big job coming up because, as we remember, minimal shopping during lockdown and big stores, especially Harrods which becomes one of the stars of this film, has very valuable merchandise which needs to be transferred into safe storage. This is not quite according to the law for Paxton so his boss gets him a pass under the name of Edgar Allan Poe!

Meanwhile, we discover that Linda is a powerful executive, has worked for five years at Harrods, is moving up in the world of administration. And her company is invited to supervise the transfer of goods from Harrods to the storage. And, and here the screenplay moves into the realm of thriller, a possible heist, there is a £3 million diamond to be transferred.

Temptation!

The latter part of the film is more dramatically interesting, of course, and the continued to and froing of the moral issue, to steal or not to steal. There is Linda’s motivation and the solving of all financial problems. There is Paxton’s motivation, especially in some reconciliation with Linda.

One of the advantages of the film is that quite a number of character actors turn up in cameos, some quite unexpectedly. Ben Stiller turns out to be the boss on the other end of zoom in Vermont with his rebellious son mocking him behind his back (played by one of Ben Stiller’s sons). Then there is Stephen Merchant doing a Stephen Merchant gawky cameo, Mindy Kaling being quite genial. Lucy Boynton works at Harrods. And, especially, there is Mark Gattis as Donald, one of those executives whom Linda has to fire – on zoom! He turns up at Harrods at the moment of the dilemma of whether to take the diamond or not.

And, for audiences who want to know whether they will steal the diamond or not, they have to remain right to the end to get the answer. (Some who found the early part of the film difficult have not wanted to be lockdowned right until the end of the film.)

1. A covid pandemic movie, title, the world experience of 2020, 2021? Audiences able to identify with the basic theme?
2. The London setting, the streets and buildings, flats? The empty streets? Cars and buses? The focus on Harrods, exteriors, the interiors, the departments, the basements? The musical score?
3. The pace of the film, the early part of the film involving the audience in an experience of lockdown, two people together, tensions, dialogue, Paxton going into the street with his poems, Linda and her exasperation? The importance of Zoom, Paxton and his discussions with his half-brother, his girlfriend? So much 2020 communication via Zoom?
4. Paxton, his background, gangs, crime, prison, rehabilitation, truck driving? Relationship with Linda, the years, exciting times indicated? Living on his memories? The contrast with Linda, American, in love with Paxton, over the years, her professional skills, her firing people over Zoom? Her relationship with the bosses? Possibilities for promotion?
5. The pandemic situation in the first half of 2020? Lockdown, shops, Harrods, the need to transfer goods from the store? The trucking company? The offer of a job to Paxton? His boss, religious inclinations, yet shady dealings? Martin at the depot, cantankerous, hostility towards Paxton? Phoning the authorities?
6. Linda, growing exasperation, firing people, her boss in America and his callous attitude, and his son poking fun at him on Zoom? The job of transferring the goods from Harrods? Her responsibility? The issue of the Harris Diamond?
7. Paxton, his bike, selling it, his half-brother on the phone, buying it, Linda cut him off, her buying the bike and giving the money back to Paxton?
8. The beginning of the plan, Linda and her attitude, the speculation, her being anti the firm, the discussion with the executives? Putting it to Paxton? Hesitations? Moral issues, keeping it on the level of speculation, decisions during the event?
9. The day, going to Harrods, the pass for Edgar Allan Poe, Linda being welcomed back by the staff, are using this to get Paxton inside? The food court, the picnic on the roof? The decisions and indecision?
10. The moment, comparative ease, the diamond and taking possession of it, taking the false diamond from the display? Their making their escape, the call for Edgar Allan Poe – and the irony of why he was being called? Their getting out?
11. Donald, his being sacked, the effect, his being at Harrods, their explaining the situation to him, his being on side, anti-authority?
12. The pandemic film, the experience worldwide 2020, a setting for a heist movie, the finger to authority?