Your Entertainment Corner

Movie Review – “Source Code”

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  • April 7, 2011

  • 4 mins to read

Source Code – directed by Duncan Jones (Moon); written by Ben Ripley

Grade ★★★★★★

Yesterday, I went to see Source Code, the science fiction thriller that had me hooked from the moment I sat down. Unfortunately, I was about 5-10 minutes late for the opening scenes, so I’m reposting here the first paragraph of Manohla Dargis’ review in the New York Times so you’ll know how Source Code starts.

A smooth diversion directed by Duncan Jones that bats around a few big ideas, the movie opens with a succession of overhead images of Chicago and its environs gleaming in the bright day. Again and again the camera swoops and soars above the doll-like houses, rushing past ribbons of freeway and nearly skimming the tops of silver skyscrapers. And again and again, and closer and closer, it returns to a speeding commuter train, a recurrence that artfully foreshadows the story’s nifty repetition compulsion.

Christina (Michelle Monaghan) and Stevens/Sean (Jake Gyllenhaal) on the train - photo credit: Jonathan Wenk at Summit Entertainment

That train becomes the center of this non-stop action flick, wherein Jake Gyllenhaal’s character must find the person who set off a bomb killing everyone aboard. The twist is Jake Gyllenhaal is really Capt. Colter Stevens, an Army helicopter pilot, although on the train, he is known as Sean. Confused a bit? It’s really quite simple. Capt. Stevens is trapped in a dilapidated pod, where a computer program, known as “Source Code” sends him onto the train in Sean’s body over and over again in eight-minute intervals so he can find out who the bomber is in order to stop him from setting off more bombs in the Chicago area. Sitting across from him on the train is the lovely Christina Warren (Michelle Monaghan), with whom he flirts endlessly.

Talk about dejá vu! Time after time, Stevens is sent back onto the train by Colleen Goodwin (Vera Famiga), an officer who works under Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright), and each time, he gets a little closer to finding out which passenger set the bomb. What is so intriguing in a science fiction manner of speaking is that Stevens eventually finds out he is dead, having been killed on a mission in Afghanistan. Throughout the movie, Stevens aka Sean flirts with Christina, who returns his affection in kind and together, they make such an adorable couple that I found myself rooting for them to somehow end up together.

Source Code is a glitsy, science fiction version of Harold Ramis’ comedy, Groundhog Day combined with the twist you would find in Twilight Zone. Unfortunately for Stevens, he doesn’t have the luxury that Bill Murray’s character had in Groundhog Day – he had an eternity to get it right, whereas Stevens only has a short period of time. There’s a lot of thinking in this movie rather than doing and that’s what sets it apart from other action flicks. Sure there is some violence and guns, but that isn’t what drives this film. Plus, there is a sense of intimacy between the characters and the viewer that makes you really care about them. So much so for me, that when the movie ended, I wanted more.

Gyllenhaal does an admirable job with this movie, which is a relief given the amount of flops he’s been in recently. He captures the nuances of his character beautifully, whether it’s Capt. Stevens or Sean. At one moment, he flirts shamelessly with Christina and in another, he’s ruthless – hell-bent and determined to find out which of the passengers in responsible for setting the bomb.

Unfortunately, the trailer for Source Code doesn’t do it justice and I’m afraid people will be turned off by it. That would be a shame because this is one terrific movie.

Source Code runs for 93 minutes and is rated PG-13. Go see it – I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!

Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!