Source Code (9/10)

We open up on Chicago, ariel shots of the city as the score kicks in. Instantly I was reminded of an old Hitchcock style opening. A sly and moving beat lurks the into the mind and the mood is set. This is going to one hell of a movie. A train moves along it's tracks in a single path. It's not changing it's tracks nor fate anytime soon (oh metaphors how I love you). We see some birds begin to fly and like the movie it's about to take off. "Source Code" is one of the highlights in a rather average year of movies (not to say we haven't had good ones). It's a smart and cool thriller that keeps you guessing until the end. A intriguing plot with a cast pulling out the stops to make a terrific film. "Source Code" as complex as it seems is simple at it's core. It's all building up to a sci-fi thriller unlike no other.

The plot starts with a man waking up on a train (Jake Gyllenhaal showing why he's an actor to reckon with). He is confused quite shocked. Putting yourself in his shoes is a blast A series of small events occur to give the environment some detail. Across from him is Christina (the always likable Michelle Monaghan), she knows him but he doesn't know her. She calls him Sean but that' not who he is. His is Capt. Colter Stevens (awesome name) and the last thing he remembers is flying helicopters in the Middle East. Of course he's freaked out and upon seeing a reflection he's even more confused. The reflection is not the man we see. An explosion occurs and Colter is sitting in a steel capsule of sorts. A woman talks to him over a computer screen. Colleen Goodwin (Vera Farmiga nailing it) tells him (or will soon) he is in the Source Code. This will let him relive the last eight minutes of this Sean's life to find out any details on the bombing of the train. If it sounds confusing now, don't worry, this movie does a great job explaining itself.

So we follow Colter as he goes through several attempts to find any clues about the bomb so that they can prevent the next attack. It's a mix of "Minority Report", "The Jacket", "Groundhog Day", "Inception" "Murder on The Orient Express" and little touches from other great films. However this one has a style and feel of all it's own despite making you think of those other great movies. This movie could have just had Colter running around doing something a little different every time he is sent back in. Well the people do things differently every time around as well, or at least the little things. Every trip in the Source Code is new every time an thus entertaining each trip as well. Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright good as always)  describes the operation not as time travel but time reassignment.

The characters feel real enough and actually have a life all their own. The plot is dynamite and is a thrill throughout. The film's production values and overall art scheme is great (sounds weird to talk about but you'll see what I mean). "Source Code" is so far one of the best movies I've seen all year. It's a compliment as well as an insult to most the other's we've seen this year. If "Source Code" came out in theaters during the summer I'd rank it maybe one of the best summer blockbusters of all time (along with "Super 8"). Also with this crap of a year in summer movies we'd finally have something worth talking about that's positive. This is a sci-fi movie with a plot that seems impossible, but that's why the sci-fi genre is so great. It's about exploring something we otherwise can't. Duncan Jones is becoming a director to talk about because he has made only two movie ("Moon" being the other) and both are marvelous. "Source Code" is a film to truly enjoy and remember.

9/10
Recommendation: I'd watch it regardless of what your taste in movies is. It's fantastic all around. I'd say rent this rather than go to the theaters right now. Your getting only about one or two good movies a week out of the ten or so that come out now anyway (counting indie movies here too). "Source Code" is high on my recommendation list anyway.