Review: Source Code

Jake Gyllenhaal is outstanding in this original sci-fi action thriller that exceeded already high expectations. (Summit Entertainment/aceshowbiz.com)

This is this years The Town for me. A movie that yes, looked really good from previews, and was also getting great reviews (90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes), but surpassed any level of high expectations by a long shot and completely blew me away. From a director in Duncan Jones who was making just his second feature film behind the lens, and a writer whom I’ve never heard of in my life, Source Code opens with an absolute jolt and keeps you pinned to your seat the entire time. But a mindless action movie this is not. Yes, it is a science fiction, action type film, but there is a distinct human story hanging in the backdrop as well. Mold all of that together, and you have yourself the best movie of 2011 to this point.

When I stated that the movie opens with a jolt, I wasn’t over-exaggerating. This is one of those films where you’re getting settled into your seat, making sure the cell phone is off, and before you know it, you’re wide-eyed and locked into a scene that feels like the climax. The beauty and sheer execution of Source Code is the balance it creates between the 8-minute time periods on the train, and the character study, or human touch of everything that is essentially a conversation between our protagonist and a mysterious military lab in charge.

The tension is not only on the train, but rather from the curiosity of what the hell is going on outside of the Source Code in real life. Where is Jake Gyllenhaal in reality? What in God’s name is he doing there? All questions that are answered in this thriller as the tension in eight minute spurts on the train rises right along side it.

Speaking of our protagonist, Jake Gyllenhaal was absolutely terrific. Not taking anything away from any of the other actors, who were very good in their own right, but he was just fantastic. Funny when it was occasionally needed, full of necessary anger and emotion, and a certified action star…he carried scenes on his back. But with such a strong and original story, he didn’t even need to.

The last ten minutes were, admittedly, somewhat Hollywood-ish, and perhaps unnecessary. It didn’t detract from the movie as a whole, but as interesting as the ending was, it also could have been left on the cutting room floor. Again, it wasn’t bad at all, but that’s just about the only thing I might have changed. Otherwise, this is one hell of a flick.

SOURCE CODE: (out of 4)

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