Review: Source Code

Source Code
Carmike Cinema 10
Plenty of AC
Large Mr. Pibb

4/12/11

Dictionary.com defines the word “original” as “new; fresh; inventive; novel.”  That’s how I’d describe Source Code. 

If you have a heartbeat and watched any NCAA basketball, you’ve probably seen the trailer and know the premise:  An army grunt is part of an experimental project that allows people to be sent back in time into someone else’s body to the last 8 minutes of their life.  In this particular case the grunt is Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal, looking his usual two-day scruffy), who’s last memory is flying a mission in Afghanistan until he awakens in the body of Sean Fentriss, a passenger on a Chicago commuter train who is seated across from a young woman named Christina (Michelle Monaghan, looking cute).  Confused and alarmed, and with barely enough time to get his bearings, a bomb explodes on the train and Stevens awakens in a pod, alone except for the image on a small screen of Colleen Goodwin (Vera Farmiga), a member of the group that is managing the experiment.  After a few Manchurian Candidate-like questions, Stevens regains his focus and gets his assignment:  find the bomber and prevent a future attack.

In a day and age of total junk (Red Riding Hood, Your Highness), blatant cash grabs (anything with a number following it i.e. Hangover 2, Pirates 4 or shilling to kids i.e. Hop, Mars Needs Moms) and CGI brain-screws (Sucker Punch, Battle:  Los Angeles), it’s refreshing to see a good story, helmed by a quality young director and starring talent that brings the story to life. 

Side note:  Source Code director Duncan Jones is David Bowie’s son and the movie has a little bit of that Bowie edge, even down to the ringtone on Christina’s phone, a Jones signature now and a throwback for some of us Doc Hollywood apologists.  One other side note:  the voice of Stevens’ father is played by Scott Bakula, a point not lost on any Quantum Leap fans that enjoy time travel stories.

Imagine a cocktail that is two parts The Matrix, one part Groundhog Day, sprinkled with a dash of Vantage Point and topped off with some Inception flavored Unstoppable and you’ve got an exciting, well-paced, really pretty dang good movie. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that Source Code will win Best Picture this year.  But every now and then we need a new, fresh, inventive and novel movie to remind us that Hollywood still has it hidden away somewhere. 

My Review: 

3/4, See it in the theater