Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes up in the body of another man on a commuter train bound for downtown Chicago. The woman across from, Christina (Michelle Monaghan), him speaks to him as if they know each other and calls him by a different name. The last thing he remembers is his unit being under heavy fire. Eight minutes later a bomb explodes aboard the train and Stevens awakens strapped into a harness inside some sort of pod. Another officer, Goodwin (Vera Farmiga) is speaking to him through a monitor and explains that he is part of special project whereby Stevens can relive the final eight minutes of Sean Fentriss’ life. Fentriss was on board a commuter train that exploded as part of a believed terrorist attack. Information obtained indicates there will be another attack, this time in a more densely populated part of Chicago. Stevens is ordered to use the last eight minutes of Fentress’ memory to discover who the bomber is so that he can be stopped. Stevens agrees to this, but also has other ideas.
Source Code is a rather cleverly plotted film as it couches sci-fi heavy repetitive time-loop plot device inside a linear story with a ticking clock. There’s the added seasoning of the mystery of where Stevens is plus some well used human emotion. All of this combines to make a thrillingly entertaining and ultimately satisfying film that pulls you in from the beginning and engages you on many levels. Ben Ripley has constructed a dense story that interweaves two mysteries in a very compelling fashion. What’s genius about this script is that even after both mysteries are solved, there is still more story to tell. And the ending could have easily been cynical and heartbreaking, yet what Ripley gives us is so much more satisfying and thought-provoking.
As I pointed out to director Duncan Jones in our recent talk together, I find it difficult to believe that this is only his second feature film. His eye for where to place the camera and how to utilize the actors and settings is phenomenal and makes for a visual treat. He starts the film with tight close-ups and an almost claustrophobic feel and then gradually opens up the shots and scenes as the story progresses and likewise opens up. There are nice visual clues as to what is really going on, but they aren’t overly obvious. You can either try to solve things as you go or just sit back and enjoy the ride, that’s how well-crafted Jones direction is. For those of you that are fans of a fan favorite TV series concerning someone leaping into people to make right what once went wrong, there are a few treats for you if you look for them. Most notably, listen for a familiar voice uttering a certain catchphrase.
Jake Gyllenhaal has grown so much as an actor since the Donnie Darko days and I really feel he isn’t given enough credit. In Source Code he has a lot to do and he handles it all extremely well. I would say that this movie wouldn’t work as well as it does if not for him. Gyllenhaal is given some awesome actors to play with, those being Monaghan, Fermiga and Jeffrey Wright. Monaghan does a great job of playing the love interest while never becoming the stereotypical distressed damsel. Fermiga starts out as a wooden soldier, but over the course of the film becomes the human conscience and ultimately proves to be the center of compassion. Jeffrey Wright steps away from any previous role he’s done in portraying the brilliant scientist that may not be the monster you think he is. There is also a quietly spectacular performance from Michael Arden that is a big as it is limited. All in all, this cast does a tremendous job.
Source Code will leave you thinking and talking about long after you leave the theater and you will definitely want to see it again. It’s a great science-fiction film with two unraveling mysteries that are thrilling with an ending that is satisfying both emotionally and narritively. This gets five stars and two thumbs up from me and I highly recommend to see it as soon as possible. I can’t wait for Duncan Jones next directorial effort and Ben Ripley’s next script.