Source Code' is the new film by Duncan Jones, Writer/Director of the amazing movie 'Moon' and also David Bowie's son. Jake Gyllenhaal plays the main role of Captain Colter Stevens, a helicopter pilot who's last memory was flying a military helicopter in Afghanistan and is now on a train bound for Chicago with no recollection of how we got there. Sitting across from him is a lady named Christina (played by Michelle Monaghan) a woman who he has never met. Confused, he rushes to the bathroom to clear his head and discovers a strangers face staring back at him in the mirror.
Before he can gather his thoughts and come to terms with what exactly is happening the train explodes and Colter Stevens finds himself inside some kind of pod. A military scientist named Goodwin (played by Vera Farmiga) appears on a screen and gradually informs him that the train was destroyed by a terrorist bomb. Goodwin and Rutledge (a doctor played by Jeffrey Wright) eventually explain that they've developed a program called 'Source Code' that enables them to revisit the last 8 minutes of a memory from one of the victims on the train. Colter's mission is to travel back into this memory and discover the bomb/bomber so that they may prevent another attack from happening in the central of Chicago later that day. Evidentally he is the closest DNA match they could find to the victim and therefore the perfect candidate for the job.
An engaging two hours ensues with Gyllenhaal's character discovering more and more every time he is projected back into the Source Code. The audience is embedded in Colter Stevens confusion from the get-go and our interest/frustration/determination develops with the character as the story starts to unveil. The story is well crafted and is convincing enough for us to forget the fact that time travel in this manner is infact impossible. Much to my dismay however I found the tremendous setup that had developed throughout the movie was destroyed by the happy 'Americanized' (as I like to call it) ending, crushing any hope I had for an intelligent picture.
Many are regarding this film as this years 'Inception' which it almost certainly isn't. I feel if it wasn't for Jake Gyllenhaal's brilliant performance this would have been a much lesser experience. For it's many flaws however there are still a lot of good things about it and Duncan Jones has certainly set himself up as an extreme visionary with great talent and style. I will absolutely be keeping and eye out for his next production.
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