Source Code

UK Release: 1st April 2011

Watched in the Cinema: Wednesday 20th April 2011

Rating: 12A

Runtime: 1hr 33mins

Tagline: Make every second count

IMDb Plot Summary: An action thriller centered on a soldier who wakes up in the body of an unknown man and discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train.

My Review: Source Code was exactly what I thought it would be - but even better! The beauty of this film is that I cannot express how brilliant it is without giving too much away.

So damn clever your brain is doing summersaults by the end, but so deep that the tears well up when you finally find out one of the big twists. According to my mum this film is a cross between Avatar and Inception. Avatar because the ‘source code’ is a simulation and Inception because of the ‘layers’ element and all the twists and play on time. As a lover of sci-fi and romance this film couldn’t get any better. 

I loved the murder mystery element, that anyone could be a suspect. It became utterly addictive as we follow Colter Stevens’ (Gyllenhaal) attempts to find the bomber.

I’d also like to note the acting and cinematography, as both were breathtaking. 

Jake Gyllenhaal was in pretty much every scene, but I never got tired of him, every second we see what he is feeling, what he is thinking. He truly is a movie star who is growing and developing into one of the best. 

The cinematography, particularly at the beginning with city shots of Chicago and the suburbs looking stunning - setting the scene with the train bolting through them. And of course the (many) explosions of the train. One of the last ones was in slow-motion with Gyllenhaal and Michelle Monaghan (also pretty good) gradually blown up. 

And the last actor/actress that needs mentioning is Vera Farmiga. I haven’t seen much of her work, but (if the their was any justice in the world) she should definitely be up for some sort of award. Her acting was calm yet frantic, commanding yet weak, poignant whilst resistant. She was Colter Stevens’ link to the outside world, and at first we’re not sure whether she is an enemy or a friend.

All I can do is to urge you to see this film. It is absolutely my favourite release of 2011 so far.

Score: 9.5/10