Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • April 13, 2011 ‘Source Code’ is high-concept film with unwelcome twist by Dennis Seuling “Source Code” is the kind of film project that excites studios and producers who view its high-concept idea, unraveling mystery, and action sequences as a menu for commercial success. Add some fine performances by well known actors such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Vera Farmiga, and Jeffrey Wright, and the formula is complete. The sci-fi basis for the film is that a new program, designed by the military, enables technicians to tap into a person’s consciousness and access the last eight minutes of his or her life. The story opens with a man (Gyllenhaal) awakening aboard a train. A young woman (Michelle Monaghan) is speaking to him, but he does not know her and has no idea where he is. When he sees his reflection, the face staring back at him from the mirror is that of someone else. He attempts to grasp where he is and what is happening but, within minutes, the train explodes in a fireball and all onboard are killed. The scene immediately switches to a capsule where Captain Colter Stevens (Gyllenhaal) finds himself being monitored by Captain Goodwin (Farmiga), an air force officer. His last memory is leading his men in battle in Afghanistan. It takes him a while to comprehend the purpose of his new mission. Because his handlers have tapped into the right frequency, they can have him replay those eight minutes again and again until he locates the bomb. He is able to draw on what has occurred before. The amount of time he has aboard the train is always the same, so he must act quickly, often on instinct. Using a structure similar to that of the comedy “Groundhog Day,” director Duncan Jones shows us numerous iterations of the same scene. The variations are often minute, but in some instances the outcome is dramatically different. The girl, Christina Warren (Monaghan), is always a part of the scenario, and Colter develops an affection for her, but she is immaterial to the mission. He is ordered to focus on the goal: Locate the bomb. The movie unfolds in interesting fashion, as new bits of crucial information are introduced along the way, altering Michelle Monaghan and Jake Gyllenhaal in ‘Source Code.’ what may be the ultimate outcome. As science fiction goes, the story works, though there might be too much time and dialogue devoted to how the source code program works. The plight of Colter, Christina, and the other passengers on the train should be of primary concern. Gyllenhaal is very good as the man given the job of saving that train and, possibly, the world. He conveys an appropriate sense of disorientation -- shared by the audience -- as he and we are brought up to speed by Captain Goodwin. Farmiga plays Goodwin as an officer not unsympathetic to Colter’s frustration. She is a good soldier, but she can also empathize with Colter as a human being, not merely an experiment. Jeffrey Wright plays her superior, Dr. Rutledge, the designer of the program, whose soft-spoken manner belies a streak of Dr. Frankenstein that puts aside the human factor in the name of national security. This good cop/bad cop pairing is rather contrived, but both actors sell their characters. Rated PG-13, “Source Code” suffers from the “Brigadoon” effect. The basis of that musical comedy is that a town in Scotland materializes for only one day every 100 years. This is the given, and audiences go with it. However, late in the play, the rules are suddenly broken to accommodate a happy ending. In the case of “Source Code,” Ben Ripley’s script sets down the ground rules, the audience understands and accepts them, sees them carried through in the action, and presumes the movie’s conclusion will follow those rules. However, a few minutes before the final fadeout, the movie does a complete about-face, introducing a plot twist that is both confusing and irritating. Until then, viewers will enjoy the ride. State Line 375 State Highway 17 North, Mahwah Open 24 Hours, 7 Days Join Us For Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner The Best Got Better! Diner - Restaurant 201-529-3353 Calling All Crafters and Antique Cars! Now Serving Cocktails, Espresso & Cappuccino $ 00 On $10.00 and over. With this coupon only. One Coupon per table. 5:00 to 9:00 pm only. State Line Diner VT Off 1 $ 00 On $20.00 and over. With this coupon only. One Coupon per table. 5:00 to 9:00 pm only. State Line Diner VT Off 2 Allendale Festival Day & Car Show 10am - 4pm Sponsored by Allendale Chamber of Commerce Platinum Sponsors: The Allendale Community for Mature Living TD Bank st Be a part of the 19th Annual Saturday, October 1 Contact Adrienne at Jumbleiah Memorabilia 201-327-8411 or check the Chamber Website at www.allendalechamber.com 11-17-10 Joan/Janine