July 27, 2011
Source Code
Tim Parks READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Jake Gyllenhaal has had the cinematic distinction of playing cowboy Jack Twist in "Brokeback Mountain," and for his latest role he portrays a soldier named Captain Colter Stevens. Maybe if he plays his cards right, we'll eventually see him round out the rest of his resume with other Village People incarnations, including: a Native American, a police officer and a construction worker.
As it stands, Gyllenhaal is letter perfect for the military set in "Source Code" and is a solid bit of casting in this rather unique sci-fi tale.
When he opens his eyes onboard a train and places them on Christina (Michelle Monaghan), who is addressing him by the name Sean, he knows that something strange is amiss. And, thus begins his mind bending journey into the titular covert government experiment (naturally), which gives him the ability to inhabit another man's body (very "Brokeback," no?), if only for the last eight minutes of the subject's life.
He is forced to relive those last moments over and over again, sort of like a ramped-up of version of the 1993 Bill Murray vehicle "Groundhog Day," until he can foil a terrorist plot.
This intriguing action/thriller has its leading man pulling off being an everyman hero very nicely, which will have you sitting on the edge of your couch.
The only negative thing to say here is that for such an original film, the DVD bonuses are a little pedestrian, (Science Focal Points and Trivia Track, anyone?) but this is most definitely worth a watch or one to add to your DVD collection.
Source Code
DVD
$26.99
www.enterthesourcecode.com