SOURCE CODE

If you don't mind some head-scratching plot holes in your science-fiction, Source Code is an enjoyable, fast-paced thriller.

The premise of Source Code is deceivingly simple. A man gets to solve a mystery by reliving the same 8 minutes. Each time he is put back into the scenario, he is allowed to ask questions of people in the scene, walk around the setting, and make different decisions. But if he runs out of time, he dies (virtually, at least). Sounds a bit like a video game, doesn't it?

In Source Code, Jake Gyllenhaal plays military man Colter Stevens. Colter finds himself waking up in the same situation over and over again, à la Groundhog Day. He finds himself on a commuter train outside of Chicago, sitting across from a beautiful woman named Christina (Michelle Monaghan) who calls his character "Sean". As Colter replays this train scenario over and over via the instructions of his military handlers, he knows he has 8 minutes to find the terrorist on board before a bomb rips through the train, killing hundreds of people.

The thing is, this is not just a fantasy scenario. In between train scenes, Colter finds himself alone in a bunker, communicating with his military handlers (Vera Farmiga and Jeffrey Wright) who explain to him that the train explosion already happened, but it is up to Colter to pinpoint who did it before it happens again. Twisty, yes? But during the train scenarios, Colter starts to believe that he can not only find the terrorist, but maybe, just maybe save the girl from dying the fiery death over and over.

Though, at the screening I attended, director Duncan Jones claimed that he did not see any similarities between Source Code and his highly-praised debut Moon. Both films deal with one man's perception of his world: what is reality, and what is in his head? Is Colter a pawn in someone else's game, or is he in control of not only his destiny, but the destiny of the train passengers as well?

Source Code is like a pile of puzzle pieces that slowly come together one by one. Some pieces fit the mythology that the filmmakers are trying to create, while others are frustratingly like those puzzle pieces that don't really fit, but you try to cram them together anyway and call it good. My movie buddy was furious throughout the film, and often lifted a hand to protest plot holes. But if you are like me, and are willing to suspend some disbelief and go along for the hurtling train ride, Source Code is an enjoyable sci-fi popcorn thriller.