Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Silver Screen Review:Source Code


This week, I take a look at the new Sci-fi thriller, “Source Code”, directed by Duncan Jones. Who is Duncan Jones might you ask? Duncan Jones is the son of David Bowe who decided to make a career in filmmaking. His first film came out a couple years ago that was simply titled “Moon”. It was a severely underrated film that showed Jones’ creative genius. Now Jones is back with his second feature film. Will it show his creative genius and guarantee him fame?  Find out in this review of “Source Code”.

Story: The concept of “Source Code” is really interesting when you think about it. The majority of the films is shot in one location and the events only last eight minutes. Despite the story’s time span, the events never seem repetitive.  The story of this sci-fi thriller is full of twist and turns that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire length of the film, which is only 90 minutes.

Characters/Acting: The movie follows Colter Steven, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, as he tries to solve the mysteries of the film’s events while we learn how he managed to get into the source code in the first place.  The development of Jake’s character transitioned well throughout the film considering  his character has to go through the same events over and over again. Jake’s performance is well done as he never stirs and always remains compelling.  The other actors in the movie have a good performances also, but my only issue is that some of the characters are not as in depth as Jake’s. Still it was really good cast.

Directing:  As I have already mentioned, I am very impressed with the work of Duncan Jones. One the impressive qualities I see in this director is his ability to make the audience think that the movie is going in one direction when in fact it goes in a completely different direction.  Another great quality in Jones’s directing is his ability to create such imaginative stories while being very subtle about it.

Everything Else:  The main theme of the movie combines time travel with “The Matrix”.  The sci-fi of “Source Code” does not throw you off, but it can be a little unbelievable at times. However, if you can suspend your disbelief, it should not bother you.  The effects as well as the visuals are both subtle and fascinating creating an outstanding atmosphere for this Sci-fi film.

Overall: “Source Code” is a great addition to the Sci-fi genre. Its story never tires and has well rounded performances. Duncan Jones really proves the importance of storytelling and how to combine it with great creativity. My only complaint about “Source Code” is that sometimes it could be a little confusing. Thankfully, it does not overshadow the wonderful storytelling of a creative Sci-fi movie. My hat is off to Duncan Jones and “Source Code” as I give it 4 out of 5 hats

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