Source Code Review

     Source Code, the recently released sci-fi thriller from Moon director Duncan Jones, is built around the premise that one man can essentially go back in time to try find the perpetrator of a deadly terrorist attack. Jake Gyllenhaal's hero has eight minutes at a time to accomplish his mission. If only the last three minutes of the movie didn't spoil the whole affair.

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     Science fiction films are generally built around the fantastic and the improbable, occupying the grey area between modern scientific possibilities and glorified magic. Source Code is no different. The movie takes place in a reality in which military technology allows individuals with particular medical traits to relive past events through other people's memories. This technology, the titular "Source Code," is what Gyllenhaal's Colter Stevens uses to continually relive eight minutes before a horrific attack on a Chicago bound train, in order to discern who committed the crime. In actuality, the movie plays out like an action packed version of Groundhog Day, but Duncan Jones, along with his talented cast, make sure that the journey is both visually stunning and (somewhat surprisingly) emotionally grounded. Jake Gyllenhaal, as the movie's protagonist, is excellent, providing just the right mixture of confusion and charisma to carry such a potentially ridiculous idea. He also gets some great help from his supporting cast. Michele Monghan's Christina is an affable romantic foil to Stevens, while Vera Farmiga brings a motherly depth to the role of Steven's military handler. Even Jeffery Wright, (SPOLER ALERT) is able to make his cliched semi-villain rise slightly above convention by playing him with a simmering intensity.  
     Though the cast does a commendable job much credit for this film's success rests in director Duncan Jones' ability to keep the action moving while continually the audience interested through twists and reveals. One can easily complain the Jones' approach to the film grows a little repetitive, especially since we see basically the same shot every time we enter the source code. However, any short comings in this stylistic choice are easily forgiven in light of some truly inventive moments behind the camera. Jones' seems to have strong grasp of how to employ is CGI trickery, and as a result he consistently provides some great visual sequences for audiences to enjoy. These moments are heightened even further by Chris Bacon's score which is manages to seem retro and modern at the same time. Overall, the film maintains a tone somewhere between the dark paranoia of last year's Inception and the clear cut romanticism of this year's The Adjustment Bureau. Well, until the end.
    It's not clear who to blame for this total failure of a conclusion. It seems to me that the movie was built to end a few moments earlier than it actually does. Jones' provides an excellent final shot to end the action, but suddenly the film chooses to continue on. Sure enough the final minutes almost manage to sour the entire experience. Almost. As it stands, Source Code is a respectable entry into the sci-fi action genre, that I imagine most people will enjoy. Still, with a stronger hand in the editing suite this could have been something more.

Grade: B

Trailer

If you've seen the movie and would like to read more on the debate over the ending, Cinematical has a great article for your consideration.      

Dan