The Locksmith review
It’s not flashy or overflowing in abundance of style and thrills, but The Locksmith is a reasonably satisfying way to spend 90 minutes.
Ryan Phillippe (Shooter) is Miller, a master lock pick fresh off a 10-year prison sentence for breaking and entering.
He’s thought of nothing but reuniting with his wife, Beth (Kate Bosworth), and daughter, Lindsay (Madeline Guilbot), and avoiding any scenario that would put him behind bars again.
Miller is able to make headway on at least one front as his old mentor, Frank (Ving Rhames, Mission Impossible – Fallout), has hooked him up with a job at his shop.
The film has four credited screenwriters who make the right call in not making Beth the cliche-ridden ex-love who’s hardened and jaded and wants nothing to do with Miller. Beth’s reasonable in her boundaries while giving Miller a fair opportunity to win back her trust as it relates to Lindsay.
Staying on the straight and narrow proves more challenging.
Miller didn’t botch the robbery that landed him in prison. He was set up by a corrupt cop, Zwick (Jeffrey Nordling, 24), who helped plan the break-in and killed Miller’s partner, Kevin (George Akram), to cover his tracks.
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Naturally when Kevin’s sister, April (Gabriela Quezada), comes around with a problem, Miller feels obligated to help her.
This is a case where the script isn’t bad, but the cast elevates the material.
Phillippe has always been a performer I thought should be a bigger star. He’s not delivering an Oscar performance here, but he hits all the right beats to make Miller an entertaining lead.
The script doesn’t help Miller out at times as his decision-making has to be screwy in order to keep the plot progressing.
Bosworth might not seem like the ideal choice to play a cop investigating a big case, yet she’s completely credible with a steely determination that makes Beth much more than just the love interest.
Rhames is as dependable as ever as the wise sounding board and Nordling is perfectly skeezy as the shady cop.
The writers can’t avoid telegraphing the film’s twist. Given the short run time, it would have been difficult to have two completely separate storylines competing for the focus.
Director Nicholas Harvard keeps a grounded, realistic approach. While this limits the potential for some bonkers, thrilling action sequences it also prevents the film from having too many silly and eye rolling moments either. Harvard’s approach might not be the most exciting, but it ensures it doesn’t go off the rails either.
The Locksmith successfully cracks its intimate, small budget feel thanks to its quality cast, logical script and steady assured direction.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Photo Credit: Falco Ink.