"Source Code" reinvents sci-fi
By James Hill III
In his second directorial effort, Duncan Jones (son of rock star David Bowie), along with writer Ben Ripley, has crafted a truly inventive, emotional, and entertaining thriller that takes inspiration from the likes of Alfred Hitchcock and Christopher Nolan. In addition, the film is buoyed by a charming, empathetic performance from Jake Gyllenhaal and excellent support from Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright and Michelle Monaghan.
Gyllenhaal plays Captain Colter Stevens, a helicopter pilot in Afghanistan who wakes up on a train headed to Chicago, talking to a woman he doesn't know. Before he can figure everything – or really, anything – out, the train explodes, and he is wrenched back to a mysterious capsule where he hears the instructions of Captain Colleen Goodwin (Farmiga).
He learns that there's a bomb on the train, along with a second bomb in Chicago.
The military has developed the titular "source code," a technology that enables them to send someone into another person's mind and body for the last eight minutes of their life. The head scientist who created the project, Rutledge (Wright), offers a jargon filled scientific explanation about the brain and short-term memory. Honestly, though, if you try too hard to fully understand the science behind the film, it falls apart.
Like most great science-fiction films, "Source Code" doesn't try very hard to make the science seem logical or real.
But high-quality direction, a well put-together cast and an engrossing storyline allow the viewer to ignore the veracity of the science and technology and instead focus on the characters and the overall classic film that emerges.
The pacing is initially jagged and chaotic, matching Colter's personal ambiguity over his fate.
But as the plot threads begin to tie themselves together, the film touches on some deeper themes that have a powerful impact and really make the screenplay and direction stand out.
Source Code is no mere sci-fi flick to throw ten bucks at and turn your brain off. Much like "Paul," it is a different kind of film.
It takes effort to watch, but the rewards are worth it. Also, like "Paul," I sincerely hope it does good business.
Using years past as a model, it seems somewhat unlikely that ‘Paul' would contend seriously for a top ten spot once 2011 has passed. But I would not be at all surprised to see ‘Source Code' hang in there after the holiday season. For a film of this genre and style, it's simply that good.
Contact James at jhill@scu.edu or at (408) 554-1918.