It seems lately, the only movies I see at the theater are twisty sci-fi films. That's ok though when they are of the quality of last month's The Adjustment Bureau or the latest film I saw, Source Code. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, the film does a nice job of keeping the action going while also keeping the audience guessing.
Based on previews alone, the film seems very straightforward. A soldier by the name of Colter Stevens (Gyllenhaal) is tasked with stopping a bomber who has boarded a train looking to blow up Chicago. However, what appears to be a routine mission is anything but. For starters, the bomb has actually already gone off. Through technology and sci-fi magic, Stevens is able to go back before the bomb exploded in hopes of discovering who the bomber is. For some films, that would be enough of a twist, but that's not good enough here. Needless to say, the story is even more complicated than that, but I won't spoil them for you here. Just be aware that there's a lot more going on in this film than what the previews might suggest.
The film is directed by Duncan Jones, who is beginning to develop quite the resume. Jones, the son of David Bowie, first entered on the scene with his 2009 film, Moon. That film was a smaller, creative film that explored the isolation of outer space and the effects that has on an astronaut. Once again Jones plays with the ideas of perception and reality here and for the most part it's sucessful. Even while working with a large budget, Jones is able to ground his film and let the storytelling remain the focus.
Selecting Gyllenhaal for the lead character was also an effective choice. He does a nice job of conveying the sense of confusion that his character, along with the audience, is experiencing as he tries to deal with his mission. Along the way, he encounters several people who help him out with varying levels of success. On the government side of things Vera Farmiga plays an office in charge of giving him his orders, while Jeffrey Wright (unnecessarily written as a cripple) is the man who developed the technology that allows Stevens to go back in time. As for on the train, Stevens meets Christina Warren (played by Michelle Monaghan) believes he is someone else. The two actors play well off of each other and it's interesting to see their characters develop a bond even as disaster is immeninent.
Where the film begins to fall apart slightly is in its climax. Credit to the writers for not taking the cheap ambiguous route with the film's storyline. But by not only offering up explanations, but also extending the film beyond the mission, the film creates more problematic questions. There are some plot holes that could have been avoided had the film not been so forthright with the capability of this technology. These questions become so nagging, that you end up leaving the theater only focusing on them instead of the fun ride you had throughout the majority of the film.
The film does offer up enough twists and turns though to still recommend it. While I think it's good enough to seek out still in theaters, it's also a film that may be better served to watch in the comfort of your own home so that you have a better opportunity to process everything that's happening. As a bonus, if you're a fan of the show Quantum Leap, you'll definitely enjoy this movie as there are a few shoutouts to the sci-fi drama. Source Code requires some patience, but if you're willing to take the ride, you won't need to travel back in time to correct your mistake. Grade: B
No comments:
Post a Comment