"Source Code" Stretches the Boundaries of Imagination

Today's popular movies are often full of drama, mystery, action, intrigue and love. "Source Code" has all of those ingredients. There is the all-American hero played by Jake Gyllenhaal and a beautiful heroine played by Michelle Monaghan. There are villains, a shady government cover-up and a story that stretches the boundaries of imagination. All of it comes together in a film that moves as fast as the train that serves as its focal point.

When Colter Stevens (Gyllenhaal) jolts awake aboard a train bound for Chicago, he is confused. His last memory is flying a military sortie in Afghanistan, where he served as a helicopter pilot. Yet, it is clear he is now stateside. There is only one problem. He has no idea of how he got there.

To make sense of everything, he begins to interact with the woman sitting across from him on the train. Christina (Monaghan) calls him Sean, which baffles him until a quick look in the mirror and at his identification confirms he truly is not himself. Just as he begins to get his bearings, something unthinkable happens. The train explodes. When Captain Colter awakens a second time, he appears to be inside a simulation pod.

That is when he comes face to face with military go-between named Goodwin, as played by Vera Farmiga. She is aloof and won't answer questions about where he is or how he got there. She simply insists he must go back and gather additional information. Over and over again, Colter is sent back to the train to look for the bomber. With each new failure, he becomes more frantic to discover how he fits into the grander scheme.

Dr. Rutledge (Wright), the scientist in charge of the project, eventually tells him he is part of an experiment known as "Source Code." It allows his mind to occupy that of a compatible host aboard the ill-fated train. There, he has eight minutes to uncover clues to the bomber's identity. Rutledge also tells him that the train is not the only target. It is part of a bigger event that will effect the entire city of Chicago.

With each trip back to the train, Colter uncovers more pieces of the puzzle and learns more about the woman with whom he travels. That accumulated knowledge gives him an advantage with which to bargain for both of their lives. The captain also discovers something his colleagues won't believe. "Source Code" could do more than affect the present. It could also change the future.

The screenplay penned by Ben Ripley is imaginative although the science involved doesn't really exist. It offers an alternative approach to time travel, which is always a popular subject with the movie going public. It provides vivid characters with which the audience can identify and sympathize. It also delivers a message. It cautions against the danger of science run amuck. For when it does, sometimes human life becomes expendable.

Director Duncan Jones handles the complex script with ease. Each travel backward retains a common thread but it is changed just enough to keep the audience engaged with the story. He uses his actors wisely and skillfully, building characters that are broad yet believable. Even the special effects involved are used to the film's advantage. They are never allowed to take it over completely.

Gyllenhaal demonstrates why he is one of Hollywood's hottest actors. His hero is realistic, honest, gritty, soulful and poignant. As his leading lady Monaghan proves herself to be an equally admirable heroine. She is intelligent and charming. Yet, she leaves no doubt that she is also courageous in her own right.

Farmiga infuses Goodwin with layers that are slowly uncovered as the film progresses. At first she is all business; cold and calculating. However, that changes as she gets to know Colter and begins to believe in his ability to save them all. In the end, it is she that truly makes the difference.

Wright's Rutledge is meant as a quasi-villain. However, the evil within his character far outweighs that of the mad bomber. He only cares about the fame and fortune his discovery will bring.

"Source Code" is a good movie, but a difficult one to watch. The action is non-stop and thrilling. It gets the adrenaline going and the blood pumping. However, at its root, the plot deals with man's own inhumanity. That can be a hard pill to swallow. Luckily,"Source Code" also offers an element of hope and a lifeline of faith. In today's world, we need all of that we can muster.

RESOURCES:

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