Source Code: An action packed source of entertainment

[May contain spoilers]

Source Code successfully continues the what-if thriller trend that began last year with Inception.

Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) is riding on a train with Christina Warren (Michelle Monaghan), only to discover that he’s literally not himself. His reflection in the bathroom mirror shows Christina’s co-worker, schoolteacher Sean Fentress. Before Colter figures out what’s going on, the train explodes.

Colter opens his eyes and is greeted in a cockpit by Air Force Captain Colleen Goodwin (Vera Farmiga). Colter’s last memory was of serving with his fellow troops in Afghanistan. Captain Goodwin is joined by Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright), who explains that Colter is part of a project that he developed and named “Source Code.”

Rutledge explains to Colter that he’s experiencing the last eight minutes of Sean’s life. He’s to find the bomb on the train then the bomber in order to prevent the bombing that follows.

Colter is sent back and relives the same events until his mission is completed. As he gets closer to the bomber he finds a way to prevent both bombings from happening. He also has a chance to make peace with his father, but first he has to find a way to get around Goodwin and Rutledge.

Director Duncan Jones, unlike most action directors, develops his characters and story. He never oversells the film’s concept, as he keeps the repetitive events fresh and exciting.

Gyllenhaal avoids “Nicholas Cage syndrome” by keeping his intensity at a modest level. Monaghan successfully pulls off the difficult task of starting her scenes off from scratch. Farmiga’s consistent temperament keeps us guessing whose side she’s really on. Wright avoids turning Dr. Rutledge into pure camp. He also convincingly projects Rutledge’s physical defects.

Screenwriter Ben Ripley creates a story with an interesting concept. Ripley also has Colter making mistakes which is a refreshing change from heroes that know instantly how to solve a problem.

Source Code is one of those movies that could have been dead on arrival, but it scores high marks for its cast, story and direction which results in a highly entertaining and smart thriller.