Source Code is, what I like to call, the 8 minute sci-fi version of Groundhog Day. While that’s putting it in layman’s terms, it is the truth but with many more mind-bending twists and turns that are, surprisingly, rather easy to follow until the very end.
Duncan Jones, also known as Zowie Bowie-son of David Bowie, follows up his indie sensation Moon, with a much larger film that’s still very much plot driven with the incorporation of big buget action, comedy, romance and thrillingly smart drama. Essentially, it is a lot easier to follow than Inception because it won’t confuse you, or blow your mind, but you’ll, at the very least, be happy with the result.
Source Code is about a soldier, Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhal), who wakes up on a train inside of another man’s body. After eight minutes, the train explodes and he wakes up in a compartment where he finds out that he is actually on a mission to find a terrorist, disable the bomb he/she planted, and then once the 8 minutes are up, report it to the team that is actually sending him into the source code. All of this is to prevent another attack from happening in Chicago later in the day. The ‘source code’ is a program that allows you to relive the final minutes, or shadow, of another individual’s life.
On the whole, I thought the movie was pretty good. The story was tight but left certain aspects open to interpretation. I was happy to see that Jones was able to smoothly transition his talents and independent spirit to the studio world, which allowed him to retain his creative edge in a very different environment. This transition isn’t always so smooth for directors but I think a lot of it comes down to the fact that he and Jake Gyllenhaal became very close and were determined to make this fascinating project work.
This leads me to the acting. The movie stars Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Jeffrey Wright, Vera Farmiga and even comedian Russell Peters, who was a complete dick in the movie. The acting was actually really good especially when you think about how similar some of the scenes actually are. I also think they were able to cope with the small spaces that were used quite well. When you watch the movie, in all honesty, the majority of it takes place within that train car and the compartment where Jake is held while not in the Source Code. I guess what I’m saying is they did a good job.
As for the downside, I think I just personally felt that it could have been a bit more powerful, I’m not exactly sure why, but it might have to do with the fact that I didn’t feel completely invested in the film as much as I wanted to be. This part is tough for me to explain but maybe my expectations just didn’t match the hype, I’m not sure. When you watch it, see if you get the same feeling that I did. While it was made with the intention to be unique, the film doesn’t succeed in becoming the most original flick that it tries to be. Luckily, Duncan Jones admits that here, stating it’s more like a Hitchcock type of film.
Overall, Source Code is a high-minded blockbuster that won’t disappoint the moviegoers who actually go and see it. It’s a very enjoyable sci-fi film that offers something different in this blockbuster era and won’t leave you pissed off like you just saw Sucker Punch for the first time. Lastly, it’s the perfect combination of a thought provoking story and popcorn munching visuals, a combo which every audience craves for.
Rating: A smart and sharp popcorn munching sci-fi flick 7/10
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