Source Code

I was merrily surprised with Source Code. I didn't entirely know what to expect going into it except for some pretty good reviews from various newspapers and magazines. We are basically thrown right into the action here, with beautiful sprawling shots of Chicago and the train. This oddly enough leads to very subtle foreshadowing, which may or may not have been intended.

A different take on its' similar film, Vantage Point from 2008, Source Code makes you follow Captain Colter Stevens, played by Jake Gyllenhaal (surprisingly well) as he uncovers the mystery of a bombing on a train. However, early into the film we learn that this is not the only mystery he must solve. We and he have no clue where he is or why he is there. This works very well throughout the film. As we gain information about the bombing of the train we slowly get more information on where Colter Stevens is. These two parallel mysteries bring along two different villains as well. That's as far as I'll go so I don't ruin anything for you.

The acting was nuanced and particularly believable. Every actor played his or her character exactly how they should have been played. Jake Gyllenhaal, coming off of two of the weaker movies of his career, delivers in this heartfelt performance. Michelle Monaghan brings her character to life, yet again. She is hands down my favorite actress. I remember first watching her in 2005's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which turns out to be one of my favorite movies. Everything I've watched her in since then has been great! She makes every role her own and is great to watch on screen. Jeffrey Wright is great as Dr. Rutledge and works as the crazed doctor from any good Sci-Fi movie. And finally providing one of the best performances of the movie, Vera Farmiga plays the soldier with a heart and we can see it in her subtle facial tics.

Obviously the actors would have had nothing to work with had the script not been good. Some points were admittedly unbelievable, but it is a Sci-Fi movie so what can you expect? The dialogue is believable and fits the situation well. There is not much more to say about the script though. One of my favorite parts of the film was when a shot of the Chicago loop was shown. They were claiming that the city was being evacuated and it looked to me like a shot of just normal day rush hour in Chicago.

Possibly one of my absolute favorite things to find in movies is points of foreshadowing. And this movie has a great one! It happens during the montage of shots of Chicago and the train. Every shot of the train is shown traveling across the screen from left to right except for one. Keep that in mind when you are watching it and you will catch an entertaining and interesting bit of foreshadowing. Like I said earlier in this review, this may or may not have been intentional on the director's part, but I greatly enjoyed it.

The opening montage of Chicago scenes is accompanied by music that instantly reminded me of a Mission Impossible movie. I found this fitting of the movie's mood. Following two mysteries/missions that seem unsolvable and improbable, the music sets us up right away for an exciting story. Not to mention the actress veteran from a Mission Impossible film: Michelle Monaghan.

This movie partially parallels aspects of J. J. Abrams' television show Fringe. That last sentence will make much more sense after seeing the movie for those of you who watch the TV show. If I say anything more I would ruin the adventure, excitement, and suspense of following these characters through the Source Code.

8/10