Source Code: Duncan Jones builds on the success of Moon

Source Code (Thriller, Sci-Fi)

Directed by Duncan Jones

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Vera Farmiga, Michelle Monaghan and Jeffrey Wright

Summit Entertainment | 2011 | 93 min | Rated PG-13 | Released Jul 26, 2011

Video:

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC

Video resolution: 1080p

Aspect ratio: 1.78:1

Audio:

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1

Subtitles:

English SDH, Spanish

Disc:

Single 50GB Blu-ray Disc

Bonus View (PiP)

The Movie 4/5

Director Duncan Jones has had an impressive start to his career. Moon (2009) saw Sam Rockwell turn in a very good performance and Source Code has built on that success. Jones has attracted a wonderful cast and the $32 million budget allows for a more spectacular presentation. Moon reminded me of older classics such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, but Source Code feels like a modern story.

The movie is a thriller with a strong science fiction element, but it also plays like a mystery. The opening scene shows Captain Colter Stevens (Gyllenhaal) on a train in Chicago. When he sees his reflection in the window of the train, it’s not him. Christina (Monaghan), the woman in the opposite seat, calls him Sean. A few minutes later we see the train explode and Stevens wakes up alone in a chamber of some kind.

Jones shows us everything from the viewpoint of Stevens, so we only gradually come to understand the situation. Stevens is part of an experimental project which enables him to inhabit the body of somebody else. The project is led by Dr. Rutledge (Wright) and Colleen Goodwin (Farmiga).

They can only communicate with Stevens by using a camera and a computer screen. He’s told that he must find out where the bomb is and uncover the person responsible for planting it. He can’t avoid the explosion, but the information could prevent a future disaster involving the bomber. He can only inhabit the body of Sean for eight minutes at a time. So we see Stevens trying to gather information. Each time the train explodes, the pattern resets and he tries again. It’s like a blend of Groundhog Day and Quantum Leap.

We have a race against the clock to prevent further terrorism and that keeps us on the edge of our seats. There’s also the chance of romance between Sean and Christina, as well as great special effects. Comedian Russell Peters provides most of the comic relief. This package has plenty to keep us hooked. At the outset I expected one of the twists to be that Sean turns out to be the bomber, but I was wrong. Couldn’t Stevens simply take over the body of the bomber on his next visit once he found out who it was, or does the technology only allow you to access people who are “compatible” with you?

Put yourself in that position for a moment. If you were a train passenger tasked with uncovering the identity of a bomber, how would you proceed? Would you be polite to total strangers as you questioned them? How about contacting the guard and explaining the situation? Whatever course of action you choose, the train will explode in eight minutes (unless you locate and disarm the bomb). That allows Jones to break the established rules somewhat. If the pattern resets each time, he can do anything. Sean can be rude, engage in criminal activity, or follow incredibly dangerous courses of action. He could even kill or be killed. That makes the movie less predictable than most.

I won’t reveal what does happen, but hopefully I’ve described the situation well enough for you to know whether you’ll like the movie.

The movie raises some serious themes such as how the line between right and wrong can become blurred. In a sense it also deals with the issue of slavery, just as Moon did.

Jones has produced another interesting idea and turned it into a thrilling story. The four main actors turned in good performances and the whole thing worked well for me. I’m a fan of the whole Groundhog Day concept and enjoy Run Lola Run for the same reason. There have also been episodes of The X-Files and Star Trek Next Generation dealing with the same concept.

Video Quality 4.5/5

I detected slight aliasing on a couple of overhead shots of the city, but it’s only there for a second or two. Colors look bright and clear, although red tint is slightly enhanced in facial shots. Detail is strong throughout, especially in close-ups. This is a pleasing transfer and exactly what you would expect from a recent release.

Audio Quality 4.5/5

There’s a lot going on in Source Code and the English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track handles everything well. The explosions carry real weight and the ambient effects, such as coffee spilling, are easy to detect. The dialogue is clear throughout and the score adds to the atmosphere of the movie.

Special Features 2.5/5

Audio Commentary with Director Duncan Jones, Writer James Ripley and Actor Jake Gyllenhaal.

Access Source Code – A PiP feature including comments from cast and crew as well as trivia and expert comments on time travel. While the navigation was a little annoying, the features offer plenty of information once accessed.

I don’t think it matters whether the plot is airtight; it’s a piece of entertainment. This is a movie that can be enjoyed as an action thriller, but it could attract others due to the science fiction or romantic elements. For those that like to think, the science fiction elements definitely provide food for thought. I enjoyed Source Code in the theater and am happy to finally have it in my collection. The Blu-ray presentation is worthy of the excellent story.

Overall score 4/5 

Click here to see where Source Code ranks among my Top 20 science fiction movies.

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My Top 20 science fiction movies: Part 3, #6-10

My Top 20 science fiction movies (continued)

10. Blade Runner (1982)

Directed by Ridley Scott

Starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer and Sean Young

Blade Runner is set in Los Angeles in the year 2019 and it’s the kind of film that makes you think. There’s not an abundance of action, but there’s enough to keep the story moving. It’s slower than most science fiction films, but that’s a positive in this case. Deckard (Ford) is a Blade Runner; a man charged with finding and killing six replicants. Replicants are androids who are hard to tell from humans. Ridley Scott is asking us to consider what makes someone human. Some of the actions of the replicants suggest that they are human, so it’s a difficult task telling the two apart. The film is an adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. This isn’t Star Wars, so don’t expect to see Ford running around defying the odds. The first time I saw the film, I didn’t like it at all. It’s gradually grown on me over the years and is worth looking at a second or third time if you didn’t like it the first time you saw it. The Blu-ray presentation makes one of the best cases for upgrading to HD. I wouldn’t be surprised if I rank Blade Runner higher when I have seen it a few more times.

9. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Starring Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Melinda Dillon and Teri Garr

Spielberg likes to make movies with mass appeal and Close Encounters of the Third Kind certainly fits into that category. It grossed $304 million worldwide and ranks 69^th on the all-time list (adjusted for inflation). So why did so many people pay to see the movie? The title suggests that we will see a lot of close encounters, but that’s not the case. Spielberg shows a few spaceships at the beginning of the movie and almost two hours pass before we see any others. The movie works because of the suspense it creates. When Roy (Dreyfuss) has a close encounter, he starts to behave oddly. What is he doing and why is he doing it? Will he persist even though it threatens his marriage? Although the pacing never feels slow, there’s almost no action in the entire movie. The story is built around two people who feel compelled to travel to a certain destination. It was a plus to see François Truffaut in front of the camera rather than behind it and he was convincing as a French scientist. Spielberg has delivered a suspense movie disguised as science fiction. It works wonderfully. The Blu-ray looks and sounds almost perfect and includes all three versions of the movie.

8. War of the Worlds (2005)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Starring Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning and Tim Robbins

I ranked the 1953 version of War of the Worlds at number 18 and I usually can’t stand seeing classics remade, but I like what Spielberg did with the 2005 version. First of all, it isn’t exactly a remake. It’s set in this century and includes modern technology. He sticks to the rules established in the first movie, but it’s shown from the viewpoint of a different set of characters. The special effects leave very little to the imagination and you’ll see people disintegrate before your eyes rather than simply vanish. The Martian machines are deadly and convincing and the acting is so much better than what we saw in the original version. The pacing is excellent and the action rarely lets up. Ray Ferrier (Cruise) tries to keep his children safe. He’s never completely earned their respect, but he steps up when the crisis develops and finally earns their trust. Spielberg respects the original movie by delivering a similar ending. It won’t appeal to everyone, but I’m glad he didn’t change it too much. You might have found yourself laughing at the original version, but there’s not much to laugh at here. It’s a suspenseful action movie with good special effects. The Blu-ray is a little grainy, but decent, and the sound quality alone makes it worth the upgrade. 

7. The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Directed by Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski

Starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss and Hugo Weaving

The three Matrix movies often leave viewers divided. While most people like The Matrix, Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions commonly meet with criticism. I like all three and consider each part of the trilogy vital to make all three work effectively. This middle entry is almost as good as the first in my opinion. Agent Smith becomes an even more interesting character and it’s good to have some background information showing how and where the crew lives. It also boasts one of the best chase scenes I’ve seen. I respect the opinion of those who were disappointed by the sequels, but this is my list and I would be lying if I failed to include The Matrix Reloaded. The Blu-ray presentation is highly-detailed and the sound mix is bold. Both definitely add something to the intensity of the overall experience.

6. Moon (2009)

Directed by Duncan Jones

Starring Sam Rockwell and the voice of Kevin Spacey

It’s difficult to talk about Moon without giving away too much of the plot, so I’ll keep this brief. Sam Bell (Rockwell) works for a mining company based on the far side of the moon. He can contact Earth by sending videos, but his only source of companionship on the station is Gerty (Spacey); a computer similar to HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Gerty talks to him, prepares his meals, cuts his hair and takes care of him if he gets hurt. Sam’s contract runs for three years and he’s only got two weeks to go. One day, he suffers an accident while on a routine mission to the surface, and wakes up in the infirmary. He’s unable to remember certain details and may even be hallucinating. We’re unsure whether he’s suffered brain damage or permanent injury. Director Duncan Jones has a few surprises in store. The feel of the movie is distinctly old school, and is similar to 2001 in some ways. Jones uses convincing models to portray events on the surface. Rockwell plays a difficult role extremely well, but I can’t describe the details without ruining the plot. The Blu-ray presentation looks great considering the film had a budget of just $5 million. Jones’ debut feature is a significant achievement and it was good to see him work with a bigger budget and other established actors in his second movie, Source Code.

Click here to see numbers 16-20 on the list.

Click here to see numbers 11-15 on the list.
Click here to see numbers 1-5 on the list. 

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My Top 20 science fiction movies: Part 2, #11-15

My Top 20 science fiction movies (continued)

15. Children of Men (2006)

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón

Starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Chiwetel Ejiofor

Clive Owen impresses me every time I see him. He’s convincing when he plays in a drama, has good comic timing and doesn’t look out of place in action roles. Children of Men is set in the year 2027 and we quickly learn that the world’s youngest person has died. Think about that for a moment. What a strange thing to report. It’s unusual enough to grab your attention and make you realize that something is wrong in this version of the future. The problem is gradually revealed and we see that the world’s population is infertile and there hasn’t been a birth in 18 years. When Theo (Owen) is introduced to Kee, she shows him that she’s pregnant. The setting is Britain and it’s not a very safe place. Society has started to break down and it’s common to hear gunfire on the streets. Theo is charged with taking Kee to safety, and that means finding a boat to leave England. He’s helped by Jasper (Michael Caine) who is great in the role. It’s a gritty movie and reminds me of 28 Days Later and The Road. Director Alfonso Cuarón was responsible for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban; arguably the strongest release in that franchise. He’s made another good movie here. 

Click here for my full review.

14. Source Code (2011)

Directed by Duncan Jones

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan and Vera Farmiga

I’ll be writing a full review of Source Code when I receive my review copy in a couple of weeks. If you didn’t see it in theaters, there are spoilers ahead:

Source Code plays like a mystery, but there’s no shortage of action. Colter Stevens (Gyllenhaal) is a soldier who wakes up in a chamber and doesn’t remember how he got there. A woman named Goodwin (Farmiga) appears on a screen and asks him what he remembers. He doesn’t remember much. Then we start to see what kind of ride we’re in for. Stevens suddenly inhabits the body of another man and he’s on a train. After eight minutes, the train explodes and he’s back in the chamber. This time he remembers more. We eventually find out that his task is to find out who was responsible for planting the bomb. He can keep going back, but only for eight minutes at a time. There’s also another deadline which I won’t mention here. The story is like a cross between Groundhog Day and Quantum Leap and it’s a great ride.

Click here for my full review.

13. Alien (1979)

Directed by Ridley Scott

Starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt and John Hurt

I included Alien in my Top 10 horror movies, but I can’t leave it off this list. Here are my previous comments:

Ridley Scott’s Alien was a sensation on its release in 1979. The setup looks like that of a traditional science fiction movie, but it evolves into a battle for survival. The crew of a mining ship encounters an abandoned ship and decides to investigate. Its origin clearly isn’t human. Those investigating are allowed back onto the ship without undergoing proper quarantine procedures and a life-form is inadvertently brought on board. The creature evolves fast, increasing in size and adapting to its situation quickly. It starts to pick off the crew. Who will survive and what will happen to the creature? The first hour is the strongest half of the story due to the air of mystery surrounding the derelict ship, but the second half is far from weak and contains most of the action. It’s a movie with a lot of replay value and was popular enough to spawn three more films in the series.

12. Dune (1984)

Directed by David Lynch

Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Patrick Stewart, Francesca Annis and Max von Sydow

This is a controversial selection. Dune was the first science fiction novel I ever read and it’s a wonderful story. It’s also complex and far too long to comfortably fit into a two-hour movie. It really deserves the Lord of the Rings treatment and would have been better as a series of two or three movies. The special effects look pretty bad, especially during the concluding battle. But I’m a Lynch fan and there are a lot of things I enjoy. It’s enough for me to forgive the weaker aspects of the movie. Paul Atreides (MacLachlan) is forced to leave his home and live on a desert planet, Dune. The vast deserts are populated by the Fremen, who have adapted to the extreme climate. The deserts also contain worms which can be hundreds of yards long. It’s a harsh world. The story is a mix of politics and action, and is carried by an excellent cast. Maybe my mind fills in the gaps in the story because I have read the book, but I don’t think that the criticism is justified. There is an extended edition which Lynch disowned, but the regular version is the better movie.

11. The Abyss (1989)

Directed by James Cameron

Starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Michael Biehn

If you watch The Abyss, it’s worth seeing the 171-minute special edition which is more than 30 minutes longer than the theatrical release. It takes the story further and makes it a lot more interesting. The movie won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects and was nominated in three other technical categories. Whatever you say about James Cameron, the man knows how to deliver movies with mass appeal. The acting usually isn’t the best, but The Abyss contains two very strong performances from Virgil (Harris) and Lindsey (Mastrantonio) who play the leads. Their mission is to investigate the crash of a nuclear submarine. What they find is totally new to science and doesn’t look like it could have originated on Earth. The special effects were ahead of their time and the Oscar was deserved. The story is gripping and Harris is at his best. The restored conclusion is satisfying and plausible, given the circumstances. I once watched the movie without sound and it still held my interest throughout. Just writing about it makes me want to watch it again, but I’ll try and hold out for a Blu-ray release.

Click here to see numbers 16-20 on the list.

Click here to see numbers 6-10 on the list.
Click here to see numbers 1-5 on the list. 

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