The science in Source Code is not time travel, it’s time reassignment. It suggests that if we were able to replay a period of time in our life, we could change things completely. This obviously isn’t possible and is definitely not something that future science could be capable of doing. As a science fiction, Source Code is unrealistic. Sometimes it feels like a fantasy film, much like the classic film Groundhog Day. In fact, the structure of Source Code’s plot is clearly inspired by Groundhog Day, where a man relives the same period of time over and over again. However, despite how implausible it is, this fictional idea is explored in a highly enjoyable way that will satisfy sci-fi and fantasy buffs, and also two different genres this time.
Those two genres are mystery and thriller. A good mystery thriller is one that is unpredictable and has twists/turns that make sense and avoid rendering the whole mystery as useless. The audience knows from early on in the film that the plot of Source Code follows a man, Captain Colter Stevens (Gyllenhaal), who has awakened inside the body of another man, Sean Fentress, and has immediately become part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train. They also know that he has 8 minutes to do this and if he doesn’t complete the mission in that time, he must restart those 8 minutes. Yes, the bomb will go off in 8 minutes but what happens in those minutes is unpredictable and can only be relished. As a mystery thriller, Source Code is a superb film.
The time loop device makes for a better edge-of-your-seat film than the other mystery of this year, Unknown. Have I mentioned that there is a romantic storyline in the film? That adds another genre that Source Code can be categorised under. Fentress sits across a woman named Christina (Monaghan). It isn’t clear what the relationship is between the two but Stevens develops a love interest in her, even thought she was probably the actual love interest of Fentress anyway. Gyllenhaal showcases his abilities as a romantic actor again and the chemistry between him and Monaghan is very strong, providing the emotional core Ripley must have aimed for in his script.
The acting in general is brilliant – Farmiga and Wright handle their characters well, Monaghan is great staying in her confused character, and Gyllenhaal is stellar. His performance here has become on of my personal favourites of his because of the role he plays – his character can do so much in a story like this and thanks to the brilliant direction and a smart script, he does get to do so much.
In fact, Source Code is now my favourite film that stars Jake Gyllenhaal. The pace of this film is good, the tension building is exhilarating, the atmosphere is unnerving; Source Code definitely is as confounding and intriguing as the trailer suggests. I believe that the trailer does not give away any of the unexpected twists in the film either.
Duncan Jones has raised the standard of his films that he set with Moon. This is only his second project and he has shown huge potential – remember his name. The whole Source Code idea may not be original but Jones has shown that Groundhog Day as a mystery thriller is sure as hell fantastic to watch.
Verdict: Action, mystery, thriller, romance, sci-fi, fantasy – Source Code will appeal to fans of all these genres. An incredible film.
