Source Code

(M) Hopscotch DVD/BD

Army Capt. Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes up on a train eight minutes out ofChicagositting opposite the charming Christina (Michelle Monaghan). The problem is, she knows him, but he doesn’t know her. We soon learn that Colter is on a mission, inhabiting the body of someone else in the last eight minutes of their life, to solve a mystery concerning who has planted a bomb on the train.

The plot unfolds along two threads: What is actually happening to Colter Stevens? And who planted the bomb?

Stevens is trying to work things out for himself and eventually throws himself into his mission as his own path to salvation.

Gyllenhaal is outstanding and the rest of the cast shine as well. Vera Farmiga plays the role of Goodwin, Stevens’ handler, with just the right amount of ambiguity.

The film leaves some loose ends for the audience to tie up for themselves without feeling frustrated that the film hasn’t been drawn to a conclusion.

Action packed, smart and tight at just ninety minutes, Source Code demands a couple of viewings.

Dave Cornford