Decoding the 'Source Code'

A few years ago a micro-budget sci-fi flick came out that basically reinvigorated the genre, while paying homage to past classics and treating the audience to Sam Rockwell starring opposite Sam Rockwell. That movie was “Moon” and it was the first feature film of Duncan Jones, successful commercial director across the pond and son of David Bowie. It's one of the most visually stunning films of the last decade and if you haven’t seen it yet, check it out on DVD today.

With such a critically acclaimed first film (90% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), the pressure is on Jones’ sophomore effort – “Source Code.” It's a high-concept, sci-fi tinged, character-driven action thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan and Vera Farmiga. 

“Source Code” breaks the laws of physics, delivering its message of self-determination and redemption while verging on the overly sentimental in its celebration of the human spirit. It also probably spent more on the opening scenes of the Chicago skyline than the entire budget of “Moon.” 

But, big budgets don’t always add up to good cinema and while “Source Code” doesn’t achieve the magic of “Moon,” the film’s diverse inspirations from Hitchcock to "Quantum Leap" and its exceptional structure and performances thankfully puts Jones out of the realm of one hit wonder.

We open on a bombastically suspenseful overture playing over intercuts of the Chicago skyline and a commuter train barreling through the flat plains of suburbia. Captain Colter Stevens (Gyllenhaal) awakes to find himself not in combat, but riding a Chicago commuter train and sitting opposite a lovely young woman named Christina (Monaghan) in mid-conversation with him. Eight minutes later the train explodes killing everyone aboard. 

Colter comes to yet again, but this time he’s strapped in a capsule. Goodwin (Farmiga), a woman in military garb, speaks to him from a console monitor.  Goodwin reveals little to Colter at first, except that he is in the middle of a mission to uncover the identity of the bomber of the commuter train that exploded earlier that day with the hopes to thwart the next target, Chicago’s Loop. Colter is investigating the scene of the bombing through the Source Code, a hazy plane of existence where an individual is able to occupy the body of another person in the last eight minutes of their life, over and over again, until the mission is accomplished.

Revisiting the same scenes provides for varied story trajectories, comic absurdity and a forum for Jones’ to do what he does best – maximum character development in minimal space. But, the real bad guy isn’t the terrorist but the denial of free will.  Caught somewhere between the everyman and a trained soldier, though disoriented, Colter is our guide throughout the film. Who is he? Where is he? How far is he willing to go?

Colter struggles within the confines of his mission and a connection grows with Christina as he discovers the sobering reality of their circumstance. But this isn’t time travel and he is told that his actions have no affect on the outcomes in present. "Source Code" may exist in a shadow of consciousness, but it also leaves the door open for alternate universes and possibilities outside the scope of science. It’s trippy stuff, but Jones grounds the suspect pseudo-science with humanity and some truly sublime explosions and action. 

“Source Code” isn’t out to blow your mind with its blending of “real” and “other” worlds.  “Source Code” has the heart and propulsion that “Inception” lacks, and Jones draws us into this provocative world of an uninformed and slightly unreliable narrator with the skill and ease of a truly gifted storyteller.

Gyllenhaal is excellent (no surprise there). He plays confused particularly well and manages to achieve comedy in the face of certain and repeated death à la “Ground Hog Day.” Monaghan does incredible things with challenging material. Her character is blissfully unaware and doomed to repeat the most lines. Monghan is quirky, thoughtful and a joy to watch. Farmiga is amazing. Kudos goes to the casting, for it’s easy to see how an actor could have been featured here instead of an actress dangerously near 40 – an absolutely welcome choice.

Just a few things are irksome: a laughable Bing ad placement being one of them.  Jeffrey Wright as Dr. Rutledge, the genius behind the Source Code, appears to be using some sort of “scientist” voice one might hear in badly-dubbed Japanime. It’s rather distracting and a very surprising annoyance from one of the finest actors around. Colter seems to form an attachment to Christina a little too quickly and, without giving away any twists, there is some issue with the “science” of “Source Code,” but when the quality of acting and filmmaking is this good, logic goes out the window. 

“Source Code” blends a strong theme of bureaucracy versus the common man that’s also heavy in “Moon” with an old-fashioned love story and crime mystery set in a sci-fi scenario. Amazingly, for the most part it works brilliantly. Jones choreographs destruction with a painterly treatment and elevates fireballs consuming a train care to poetry. Given the preposterous premise of the Source Code itself, the movie’s immensely enjoyable execution is a testament to Jones’ vision and a tight script by Ben Ripley. 

“Source Code”'s unabashed grand message is a bit of a letdown with its tidiness and sentimentality in the last minutes, but Jones’ meticulous structure and fast pacing is impressive, making the ending and a few plot issues only minor hiccups in an otherwise supremely crafted ride. A must see.

"Source Code" is now playing at:

UA King Of Prussia Stadium 16 & IMAX, 300 Goddard Blvd., King Of Prussia.

Regal Plymouth Meeting 10, 1011 W. Ridge Pike, Conshohocken.

Regal Marketplace at Oaks Stadium 24, 180 Mill Road, Oaks.

For more of Megan Carr’s movie reviews and media musings, visit her website at therestiscreamcheese.com.