Michelle Monaghan - Christina Warren
Jeffery Wright - Dr Rutledge
Vera Farmiga - Colleen Goodwin
Duncan Jones (Director)
This makes two weeks in a row that I have gone to the theaters and saw the #2 movie in terms of box office draw. Last week it was Sucker Punch and this week, Source Code. Another interesting note, both films were beat out of the #1 spot by a kids movie. Both of which hold zero interest for me.
Source Code held so much interest with me mainly because of the director Duncan Jones and his first film, 2009's Moon staring Sam Rockwell. A movie and performance that I loved. Source Code is a much higher budget film with an equally high concept premise. Source Code is a government program in which soldiers can travel back into a decesed persons memories and relive the last 8 minutes of their life. Why would they want to do that? In the film a train has been bombed killing hundreds. That train can't be stopped. Time has already passed and the events of that have happened and are forever recorded in the halls of history. But there is another bomb threat from the person who set off that bomb. If we could find out who the bomber is, we could save possibly thousands of peoples lives. Whew, that is a chocked full of plot.
People are saying this is the action film version of Groundhog's Day. There are unavoidable similarities, but I think that both films get at different truths. In Groundhog's Day (a film I adore) Bill Murry's character has to learn to lose his cynical, self loathing characteristics to truly find love. Both in his self and with others. Source Code deals with a much different theme. The protagonist in this film doesn't really have much of a character arc. His job is to change the lives of those around him. He is a tough military man in the beginning and carry's that out through out his mission. He change is that of learning and accepting. The changes of those around him is what is driving the movie.
The performances in the film are pretty decent. Gyllenhaal is sound and makes for a believable tough guy and sensitive everyman. I felt that Vera Farmina was sort of wasted here. I think she is a wonderful actress, but until that last 10 minutes she wasn't given much to do. I did think Michelle Monaghan was great in her role. I hope this movie help her land more meaty roles in the future. Then there is Jeffery Wright. Another actor I love. What the hell was he trying to do in this film? I think it was sort of a classic mad scientist kinda thing, but he stuck out like a sore thumb.
Source Code is a solid thriller. I liked the narrative structure, even if it was a little familiar (no pun intended). I was a little disapointed in the film but that is because of the baggage that I brought into the theater. Baggage that was placed there by a visionary first film. I guess I was looking for a little more eccentricity. Don't let the bad press fool you. This will be better than almost every superhero film that comes out in the summer months. Even if the science is a little sketchy. I give Source Code ★★★. Check out the Trailer Park to see for yourself.
No comments:
Post a Comment