Criminally underrated. What Source Code lacks in narrative logic, it makes up for with its brisk pacing and Jake Gyllenhaal's emotional performance.
I got invested in the characters right from the start while viewing "Source Code". Jake Gyllenhaal is Captain Stevens and Michelle Monaghan plays Christina both passengers on a commuter train headed to Chicago. The train explodes during its route and Captain Stevens "wakes up" in a dark capsule is told a minimal amount of information and is then sent back to the exact moment in time that we first saw him on the train. We learn that Stevens is on a military mission to find a bomb that killed everyone on board and that he must also find the person who planted the bomb because they are likely responsible for threatening to explode a dirty bomb in the middle of the city.
I really sunk myself into the plight of Stevens and fell for the cute Christina not really thinking at all about the improbability of what was happening. Earlier in the movie we learn that the 'Source Code' project allows one person to assume another person's mind for 8 minutes. So Stevens takes over the consciousness of a teacher Sean that was killed during the explosion. Turns out Sean and Christina had a budding relationship and Stevens' mind has now replaced that of Sean. The whole idea is a lot like "Groundhog Day" with Stevens dying every 8 minutes and then going back to the same point to try and save the train and also thwart the upcoming bombing of Chicago. He searches for clues and mistakenly follows a couple of characters both on and off the train.
Suspending disbelief is a really subjective thing for me. Sometimes I'll allow myself to accept the most ridiculous premise and other times I'll question everything going on with a roll of the eyes and an accompanying groan. But in this case I got myself caught up in the building relationship between the two main characters and I actually enjoyed myself. Then things started to fall apart.
I first got miffed about what is now a growing Hollywood cliche. The terrorist who planted the bombs is a white male who is trying to "reduce the world to rubble". He's obviously an anti-Government wacko in fact a patriotic wacko because when Stevens finds the terrorist's dirty bomb it's in a red white and blue trunk. Stevens remarks "very patriotic". Ugh...could they have presented a safer more politically correct bad guy? This snapped me into a more critical mindset and I started wondering if Stevens has 'become' Sean he would only be able to know what information Sean's experienced about the train. Sean was a teacher a simple passenger yet somehow Stevens knows damned near everything about the train. He also leaves the train to follow a passenger he first suspects. Could he do that if Sean hadn't done it previously? Where is all of this information coming from?
We've also learned that Captain Stevens actually died in a mission in Afghanistan but he's in a sort of coma that is allowing his mind to be used for the Source Code project. Stevens also learns of his condition and struggles with it while still acting as Sean the teacher and trying to find the bomber.
Stevens eventually figures out who the bomber is saves Chicago but loses the train to the first bomb. Heartbroken Stevens pleads with Source Code's controller Goodwin to allow him to go back one more time to save the train...and Christina. After 8 minutes he instructs Goodwin to basically 'pull the plug' and allow him to die. She complies and Stevens successfully saves the train and has a few last moments with Christina. He asks her what she would do with her last minute. As final seconds of his last 8 minutes ticks away he kisses her the Source Code clock expires and everything on the train is frozen in time. Stevens' last moment shows him kissing Christina. He has died but has saved the train and her life. It's a touching way for our hero to enter eternity and a very good but bittersweet ending.
Then a terrible thing happens...the movie continues and breaks all of the rules its worked so hard to establish. I'm not going to explain what occurs in the last 10 minutes other than to say it's either to give us an entirely happy ending or to set up a sequel. I can almost excuse the possibility of a lead in to a sequel business is business. But I think this travesty of a tacked on ending is due to Hollywood and it's mostly thick-headed customers needing a totally happy ending.
Very, very entertaining! Groundhog Day, with a very strong twist. Really liked this one, kudos!
pretty good film i liked it :)
I was pleasantly surprised at this movie. It's not the most sophisticated science fiction, but it's entertaining and I wasn't frustrated at the stupidity of any of the characters (this happens way too often). Recommended!
I rolled right through this, engaged at every turn. Alas this is a 7.5 kind of movie for me and does not deserve the totally ninja rating from me. Times like this I wish trakt had a more granuar rating system. Still recommend.
Like a computer program: it does what it's supposed to do but without any artistic flourishes.
Jake Gyllenhaal, however, is next level good, as always.
Source Code is suspensive time travelling-ish movie that has a unique and a suspense plot, from the beginning of the movie it was paced really well, there were moments that kept me guessing whats next. Although it does rely on some common "time travel" cliches, this one was executed really well, Jake Gyllenhaal also delivered with a solid performance. Other than that, the movie does fall short in creating compelling side-characters as it intended to. I feel like if the movie was a bit long and they took their time developing characters and giving the viewer more insight on the science of it all, this could have been much better, overall good movie.
It was a pretty entertaining movie. You can watch it one time but i didn't like that there was almost nothing information about how Source Code works or it's mechanism. So, it's a 7/10 for me....
This movie was awesome! It's like Inception, but on a lower budget.
To say the same thing happens over and over and over again I wasn't bored at all. It flowed really well. I still don't completely get how they did what they did; but that's the sci-fi aspect of things I suppose. The ending was really well as well, a satisfying end to an entertaining film.
So much better than I expected. Touching, tense, and exciting.
I really enjoyed this movie. I know people probably dislike the feel good ending, if you really want to call it that, but I thought it wasn't too heavy-handed and worked well.
really enjoyed this it was a great movie... perfect for sunday arvo on the couch
Seems this is a marmite film, i was a bit dubious due to comments and reviews on this around the web but the plotline sounded something right up my street. I really enjoyed the film and i thought the ideas behind it were pretty cool, even if it isnt a "realistic" concept it was still a good film. 8/10
Not understanding why this film is so highly rated! It's one of the worst films I've ever seen.
Well I guess it's original... oh wait, it's kinda 12 Monkeyeque if you think about it.
Its not inception but a movie worth watching.
This movie should have a better rep than it does. Maybe it's something to do with Jake Gyllenhaal, he seems to easily mocked by some filmgoers. I may have been guilty of that in the past. But it's all unwarranted. I wonder if I had seen this movie before I saw Edge of Tomorrow: Live. Die. Repeat I would have loved it as much as I do, because Source Code kinda beats it to the punch as far as the main gimmick of the movie goes.
I 100% don't get how it ended, however. Will be going to the wiki right after this to try and figure it out.
it was amazing! I never thought would be so great
Very good and interesting movie i guess if you liked Edge of tomorrow you will like this one too
Sci-fi thriller by Duncan Jones (Moon, 2009). More comercial but still cool. The story and the characters keep you hooked.
I enjoyed it well enough but don't think about the plot too much, it'll make you enjoy it much less.
Nicely done and very enjoyable. Probably especially due to Jake Gyllenhaal.
Really good movie, it's really the kind of the movie I like! Little bit SciFi, little bit Thriller :-)
This was a great movie for what it is. It won't go winning any awards but it is worth 93 minutes of your time.
7/10
Pretty entertaining and engaging.
Well, smiffy, I guess it's just not your cup of tea. :-)
I think it is a really good movie, maybe just a little bit too straightforward for my liking.
Better than expected! Totally surprised by this movie.
Not the grandest Sci-Fi thriller or time loop film, but it is really solid at both. It has been a long while since I originally saw this one (my guess is more than a decade ago when it came out), which really made it feel like a first watch in many regards. I enjoyed it. If you like these sorts of thrillers you should really check this one out!
Rating: 3.5/5 - 80% - Would Recommend
One of the best uses of the Groundhog Day plot device. Such a rewatchable film! All of the actors do a phenomenal job, especially Jake.
Good movie, very interesting sci-fi idea, recommended!
The only issue I have with this movie is that it was pretty obvious who can be a bomber right from the beginning. It was only logical to assume that it's someone who's leaving the train, not staying in it.
This movie is just a black mirror episode on steroids
I'm a big fan of Jake, I really like the soundtrack and even though it was less exciting on a rewatch, it still kept me interested.
I didn't really understand the ending but I guess he lives in a different timeline where the bomb never went off (and then he took over the body forever?).
I loved the shot near the end when everybody is laughing on the train when time stops for a few seconds.
Really enjoyed the story and the movie. However, the last plot twist does not make any sense for two reasons.
1. Goodwin pulls the trigger on Stevens, so he should not be able to access the source code beyond 8 min. If she let him live, it could have been a possibility.
2. Stevens email to Goodwin is not possible. It implies that his email reached her in the past. Source code was never designed to travel in the past.
Initially gave this movie a 10/10 when I first saw it upon release not because it's perfect but because I was so thoroughly entertained and loved all the performances so greatly. I saw it again last July and still loved it but I'm more discerning score wise than I once was. It's still one of my favourite films of all-time entertainment and performance wise. Great directing by Duncan Jones. Today I'll slot it in at a 9.0 which is currently in the top 2-3% for movies I've scored on this site.
I tend to dislike a lot of time loop movies, simply because most of them feel repetitive and low stakes to me. They found a clever way around that problem with this film, it’s thrilling and interesting from beginning to end. The problem is that it kinda starts to cheat with its own rules in the third act, which is a bummer. The characters are fine but could’ve been a lot deeper, as the emotional pay-offs in the third act don’t hit as hard as the film thinks they do (it can even get a little sappy). Still, good cinematography, decent score (which sounds very, very Michael Giacchino-ish, but apparently it’s not him), occasionally funny, well acted and it moves along quite nicely.
6.5/10
Source Code is resourceful in coming up with a fairly fresh take on the time loop stories. Does a decent job of grounding the science fiction plot with some inquiry into identity and meaning of life. Jake Gyllenhaal shines as usual and Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga offer great support. Just enough to rise a bit above the generic sci-fi film threshold.
"It's the same train, but it's different."
This is a fresh take on the Groundhog Day time loop premise. I realize more and more of these have come out since then, but it still felt fun! Jake always has a way to charm his way into my heart, even if he is anxious and jumpy the whole time, and Vera and Michelle are a good addition.
The movie was at least entertaining until the ending, the ending RUINS completely the entire movie and destroys all the sense that it had.
I feel like they're wasting a lot of time talking.
First time he's back, ok he's disoriented. She tells him to look for quiet people, or nervous people.
Then a random "oh you ONLY have 8 minutes and you have NO idea who the bomber is but DO get the gun"... what? What logic are you applying here? Oh yes: none.
Then she tells him to look out for people with equipment.
Sure, but at this point he's been clear going in every time, shouldn't he know what to look for?
And the whole conversation about the Dr telling him about Source Code, yet him being to stubbornly deaf/forcefully dumb to understand what he's actually being told. He is basically being told it is some sort of simulation, like he thought the first time, and he can't save anyone. Thick-skulled.
It was picking up around the middle of the film, and it seems like further plot is sweeping over the initial weaknesses, while adding a few more.
Nobody should be surprised to find that the bomber is the one the audience had their attention drawn to right from the very beginning. And they keep acting so devoid of logic. All he needed, was to find out who he is. Check. Fine, plate number and goals etc are extra goodies that might help. Brave soldier and all that. But why let the guy get on his truck and not shoot him in the leg at least? Why let him fiddle around with the bomb? W...what is happening? Lmao. This is so unprofessional.
I did enjoy how it all plays out toward the end though.
I replied to someone, but it fits as its own comment too. Edge of Tomorrow is more popular and appears to have a better legacy. I don't think that's warranted. Edge of Tomorrow is bad ass. Source Code is better.
My comment:
"Most of Edge of Tomorrow is a lot cooler. The ending is a lot weaker than Source Code and in general. Cruise's character is the one that has full memory, yet Emily Blunt's stone cold character is the one that kisses him is weak. That saps the "happy" ending for me as well. Though I didn't like the ending regardless lol.
I read the synopsis of the book. It doesn't dismiss the female character back into age old ways. Source Code is the better film to me."
It is very similar to Groundhog Day.
Technology + Future + Romance + Groundhog Day = Source Code
I really liked it, it has a bit of a cliché but it's very good.
2.1 points -> Cinematography (0-3)
1.5 points -> Acting and Characters (0-2)
2.6 points -> Plot (0-3)
0.7 points -> Score (0-1)
0.8 -> enjoyed the movie. (0-1)
Aka. 7.7 points
Loved this movie! Great mind f:asterisk_symbol::pound_symbol:% of a movie, so underrated! If you liked The Matrix you will find this film to live up to its expectations. Must Watch 10/10
In the not-at-all-distant future, the US military runs a trial of their new take on time travel. Through a loosely-explained implementation of cutting edge technology, they're able to insert an unwitting agent into the near past, where he then relives the eight minutes immediately preceding a terrorist attack over and over again, desperately seeking suspects and answers.
I'm typically a big fan of this style of high-concept science fiction flicks, and for the great majority of its running time, Source Code manages to continuously one-up itself in that respect. The film doesn't shy away from delivering powerful, surprising answers as events play themselves out, while a deep, complex script ensures there's always a new mystery to pick up where the last one left off. With that nice juicy carrot always dangling just out of reach and a breakneck pace from start to finish, this plays more like an intense, brilliant short film and not the feature-length offering it actually is. Though an awkward, mismatched happy ending does sour things to a certain extent, the sharp curves it navigates before running into that brick wall won't be easily forgotten.
good movie until they ruin it with the stupid ending
The main reason I watched this was the cast because I had absolutely no idea what this is about and to be honest, I didn't expect much. At all. But in the end I was pleasantly surprised by it!
Things I didn't like:
- The ending.. I could sense it (or at least some version of it) happening from the beginning and up until then I hoped the movie wouldn't go down that road.
- Why was there so much gaussian blur used on Michelle Monaghan's forehead?
- The interchangeable role Vera Farmiga played. She is such a talented actress and unfortunately didn't have much to work with here. It could have been any other decent actress and it wouldn't have made a difference.
!! ATTENTION SPOILER !! J'espère qu'un jour, réalisateurs et scénaristes comprendront qu'un happy end n'est pas toujours utile. Dommage.
Filme bastante tenso, criei várias expectativas, porém, ficou com o ar de faltou algo. Jake tem o poder de participar de filmes não convencionais.
Jake Gyllenhaal is a guarantee in every film he takes part. Source Code is not an exception. A history sought and, if not original as the one of the rewinding time, treated in a different manner. A nice movie that you watch unpretentious and without too many disappointments. Recommended viewing!
I like this kind of sci-fi movie. Nice plot.
Lame, full of plot holes. You want to watch a good movie about time travel watch Primer!
"Source Code" being adapted for CBS TV show
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/source-code-be-adapted-tv-236071
mortstar's right. apparently bevigilant you believe the movie would be more enjoyable if the character would just sit in one spot, only able to move his eyes from left to right. lol. don't forget that this is MOVIE. not a discovery channel special on future tech. certainly decisions have to be made for entertainment purposes.
So you haven't a problem with him 'entering' somebody else's memory. What you have a problem with is the laws that then govern this phenomenon.
I think you either 'go with it' when watching Sci-Fi or don't bother getting on-board at all. You can't pick and choose which made-up BS you are going to allow to happen, it's ALL fictional, just enjoy the ride.
"It requires some thinking, if you're into brain-dead films cough*Battle LA*cough you may not like it.
I would love to hear those "flaws" that smiffy so easily saw."
If he is entering this guys last 8 minutes of life he should be static in that memory. Yet he can interact and see items\locations that the original host did not see. How is this even possible.. Its not and such a HUGE plot hole spoiled the movie for me.
Not understanding how anyone could not like this movie.
It requires some thinking, if you're into brain-dead films cough*Battle LA*cough you may not like it.
I would love to hear those "flaws" that smiffy so easily saw.
Begin and middle are good. Ending could have been better.
The whole film is so flawed. Won't go into details so as to prevent spoilers but anyone with half a brain should be able to pick at the storyline's many faults!
This was totally not what I expected looking at that awful DVD cover. I have to say though, this really gets you and is one of my top movies of 2011 for sure. So good!
Wow! I'm thrilled.
2 AM in the morning on a Sunday and I think I'm loving it.
Beautiful movie. Science fiction in a very good way.
Loved it.
Excellent Excellent - even the wife liked this one!
Action packed, interesting story line.
Best movie I've seen yet in 2011.
Shout by AlexanderZBlockedParent2016-04-24T20:55:06Z
Definitely a Sci-Fi film to remember.