When Am I? Marathon: Source Code (Duncan Jones)

Source Code has intrigued me since its spring theatrical release for several reasons. Along with its time-travel premise, it's also directed by Duncan Jones, whose first film was Moon. That riveting movie was basically a one-man show for Sam Rockwell as he uncovered a stunning mystery. Working with a larger budget but still within a similar genre, Jones seemed like the perfect choice for this mind bender. Let's get to the questions before I'm forced to write this intro again!

Captain Colter Evans (Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes up on a commuter train outside of Chicago with no idea how he got there. A military helicopter pilot in Afghanistan, he's thrust into a plot to discover who planted a bomb on the train. But there's a big twist. This terrorist attack already happened, and Colter's in the body of Sean Fentriss, a passenger on that train. Pushed to discover the truth by Goodwin (Vera Farmiga) and Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright), he repeats the same eight minutes (approximately) over and over. While looking for the bomber, he begins to realize that his superiors might have a few secrets of their own.

This method of time travel is called Source Code (now I get the title!), and Dr. Rutledge gives a brief explanation of its process of "time re-assignment". However, his description isn't held up by the story's resolution. I won't spoil the specific ending, but it possibly involves alternate realities that can spin off in a different direction based on Colter's actions. It could be effective to prevent an impending terrorist attack, but there may be ramifications beyond the characters' understanding. The ending makes sense within the rules of this world, but it may lose some viewers not willing to take the leap. I admit that there are some flaws if you really dig into what happens, but I'm a sucker for this type of sci-fi.

Surprisingly, the time-travel premise doesn't overwhelm the main characters, who are believable and interesting. Colter starts each sequence on the train sitting across from Christina (Michelle Monaghan), an attractive and friendly acquaintance. She thinks he's Sean, but they share a new connection in their brief time together before the explosions. While it seems like a stretch for a love story to grow in a few minutes, the actors sell the bond. In the supporting roles, Vera Farmiga does solid work as Goodwin, but Jeffrey Wright really overplays Rutledge's lack of morality. Also, there are some painfully thin characters in the small roles aboard the train. The stand-up comedian in particular is especially brutal at times.

Source Code opens with Colter waking up on the train with no idea what is happening. His confusion during the first half-hour is really well-done and effectively throws us into the story. Beyond the sci-fi premise, this is a classic example of setting a thriller in a confined space with limited time to avoid destruction. Armed with little knowledge, Colter must figure out his surroundings and try to uncover the mystery of the bombing and his superiors. Gyllenhaal does a good job in conveying this guy's confusion without overplaying it. This is a tricky performance, and the movie fails if we lose interest in his character.

This is another case where a character isn't traveling to a far-away time period. Instead, Colter is returning to the same events in Groundhog Day-like fashion and trying different things each time. The other characters' reactions are generally believable since they change based on what Colter does. It's too bad that the ultimate revelation of the terrorist is such a ho-hum experience. Jones doesn't seem interested in the main plot and  would rather focus on Colter's search to understand his status because of the Source Code program.This doesn't take much away from the main plot, however, as our focus is more on this unique situation than catching the enemy.

Source Code is one of those movies where you're either willing to accept the plot twists or will throw your hands up in disgust. If you accept the film's main concepts behind the time travel, there aren't any major paradoxes that don't make sense. For much of the film, we're going along for the ride with Colter and don't have more information than his character. It can be confusing, but the plot generally holds together near the end. It's a divisive finale, and a few parts of it are open to interpretation, but it works for me. Jones and Writer Ben Ripley (Species III) take some risks, an approach that's pretty rare in recent Hollywood sci-fi pictures.

Other Marathon Reviews

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
The Time Traveler's Wife
The Time Machine (1960)
Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey