Photo by: celebrity wonder.com
Jake Gyllenhaal is back at home in the science-fiction genre, a genre that commenced his success in Hollywood ten years ago in “Donnie Darko,” with his latest thriller endeavor “Source Code.”
“Source Code” is only director Duncan Jones’ (“Moon”) second movie, but with a well written screenplay by Ben Ripley, tailored with exquisite cinematography and an unlikely supporting cast, it is has become the best film of the year to date.
The film is told in a very unique way known as the replay film that’s been done and failed miserably, see: vantage point.
Gyllenhaal plays a soldier named Capt. Colter Stevens who wakes up on a Chicago commuter train inside the body of a man named Sean Fentress.
He later learns that the train is destined to explode, killing more than one hundred people, and that his mission is to find the bomber to prevent subsequent terrorist attacks.
After his first run through, the train explodes, sending him back to reality where he is enclosed in a capsule with a bunch of wires and a video monitor. However, he is perplexed, wondering why he isn’t in Afghanistan with his unit.
His confusion slightly dissipates after being briefed by a women named Colleen Goodwin (Vera Farmiga, “Up in the Air”) who is second in command of the newly founded Source Code project.
She tells him that the project allows Stevens to relive the last eight minutes of Fentress’s life numerous times in order to complete his mission.
Stevens begins to form relationships with the passengers on the train to complete his mission.
A minor love story forms as he becomes closer to a woman named Christina Warren (Michelle Monaghan, “Due Date”). However, the real question is: what is the source code project? And what are the limits that its creator Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright, “Quantum of Solace”) has set in place?
Gyllenhall’s charming acting talents are at their best, however, he does not overshadow his supporting cast, who rise to the challenge of making a great movie.
Together with director Jones, they help create a wonderful simplicity within the film.
While the hidden metaphors about happiness in times of chaos are limitless, the scope of the film is very narrow allowing the plot to not overstep its bounds.
Every shot is meaningful and is artfully crafted, slowly revealing the secrets dissolving the lines between the past, present and future reality.
In the end, the film is no let down. Taking the viewer on a mentally thrilling journey and successfully creating an ending that has one of the best shots ever caught on film, which exemplify the infinite possibilities of life, love, hope and happiness.
