Source Code movie review (2011)

Source Code (2011)

Brief review: Much to my surprise, I was slightly disappointed by Duncan Jones' debut feature "Moon", as I found it truly original, yet monotonous and rather boring. Therefore, I didn't know what to expect from his latest film, called "Source Code". What I got was a unique and stylishly-crafted sci-fi thriller with a brain. Something more than that - "Source Code" is unpredictable, tense, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking and incredibly compelling film that impresses not only with its original concept, but also with its mind-bending narrative, brilliantly-precise execution, and Gyllenhaal's exceptional performance. Despite its complicated plot, the film never gets confusing or overdone, thanks to Jones' smart and creative choices behind the camera, and Hirsch's masterful editing. The '8 minute fragments' never feels repetitive, dull or tiresome - each next scene is tauter than the previous, and the film gets more and more intriguing and exciting as the story progresses, offering many twists and turns along the way. Jake Gyllenhaal is probably this film's biggest asset - he fully inhabits his character, delivering one of the most complex performances of his career as the charismatic and bold, yet confused soldier, Colter Stevens.

Overall summary: Thanks to its unique premise, clever plot structure, flawless execution, and Gyllenhaal's top-notch performance, "Source Code" easily ranks as one of the most accomplished and skillfully-crafted sci-fi films of the 00's, and also one of the best films of the year so far.