Source Code (2011/Summit Blu-ray)
Picture: B Sound: B Extras: B- Film: B-
A few
years ago, Duncan Jones made a stunning directorial debut with the Moon (2009), a smart Science Fiction
film that was as much a mystery as a thriller announcing an ambitious new
filmmaker had arrived. Now comes another
thriller, Source Code (2011), set on
earth, but often as smart and as challenging.
Jake Gyllenhaal is a military soldier who is part of some sort of
experiment to travel back in recent time (though he cannot remember how he got
there) and is trying to figure (when he can remember) to find out who is the
cause of a terrorist bombing of a passenger train.
The
result will not rewrite history according to the systems creator (Jeffrey
Wright), but could stop more killing.
Under the guidance of the system’s operator (Vera Farmiga), he keeps
going back to the events on the train, has yet another identity, has a female
companion (Michele Monaghan) and keeps reliving the events in various ways
until he can figure out what is going on.
Writer
Ben Ripley has come up with one of the better scripts of the year, one that
actually understands the genre (down to a reference to the original Manchurian Candidate), is not afraid to
be complex (this is the smartest film of its kind since the oft misunderstood
Tony Scott film Deja Vu) and is as
cutting edge as Terry Gilliam’s work in the field, but there is more. The acting is really good, Gyllenhaal is back
in his best element taking on kind of cutting edge material that put him on the
map long ago and this is more competent than most films in the genres covered
of late.
Despite
some minor complaints (the digital visual work is interesting at times, but
inevitably becomes too generic), this is a success with only an element of the
ending (to tell would ruin things) not ringing as consistent, but this holds up
to repeat viewing otherwise (how many such films fall apart before they are
over these days and you cannot watch them again? Too Many!) and Jones proves Moon was no fluke.
Source Code is one of the best commercial
action thrillers of the year as well, but like a Hollywood that used to have its act together
not so many years ago, it offers more to a smart audience who likes being
treated well and is worth going out of your way for. If the Summer 2011 films have disappointed
you as they have most, you’ll love it.
The 1080p
1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image has its mixed digital effects and is
styled down a bit, but looks pretty good throughout with some nice naturalistic
shots, some wild shots and a look that is consistent for the most part from
Director of Photography Don Burgess, A.S.C., (What Lies Beneath, Terminator
3, Book Of Eli) who knows what
he is doing. The DTS-HD MA (Master
Audio) 5.1 lossless mix at its bets has a great soundfield and solid use of LFE
.1 subwoofer effects, but there are other scenes where it is quiet and the mix
is more in the center channels than I would have liked, yet that at least makes
some narrative sense. That is just not
my preference to a sonic approach in the latter case.
Extras
include a feature length audio commentary track by Jones (who is very good at
these), Ripley and Gyllenhaal (who is always funny in these) and the Access:
Source Code feature that offers video clips and factoids as you watch,
which we recommend after seeing the film.
Jones’ Moon is also available on a great
Blu-ray (which we did not get to review, but highly recommend) as well as
DVD. You can read more about that and
the film at this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/9556/Moon+(2009/Sony+DVD)
- Nicholas Sheffo
