Source Code

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Given the fanfare and almost instant cult classification over his first film, Moon, you'd be forgiven for having hyperbolic expectations for Duncan Jones' sophomore effort. Source Code is a completely different film, both tonally and in terms of execution. Jones has more money to play with here, and the constant ticking clock scenario gives the movie a brisk feel. Think hard enough and you'll find holes in its logic, but this is a still smart and relatively tight popcorn thriller.

Gyllenhaal wakes up on a train, sitting across from a beautiful woman (a radiant Monaghan) seemingly in mid-conversation. She uses a name that isn't his, and acts like they know each other - but he has no idea who she is. Eight minutes later, the train explodes, killing everyone on board. Gyllenhaal wakes up strapped into a seat, his only communication with a uniformed woman on a monitor. We soon find out his name is Colter Stevens and he was recently fighting in Afghanistan. He is being transported back in time to the train, where he has eight minutes to find the bomb and whoever planted it. Struggling to comprehend the complexity of the situation, he yearns to find out how he ended up helping a top secret government experiment.

Films dealing with parallel universes are always tricky; the director needs to tread carefully and not bleed too much information too soon. There's also a danger of overloading the running time with plot exposition, where characters spend the majority of the flick explaining what the hell is going on. Thankfully Jones sidesteps that, delivering something broader and more appealing to the casual movie-goer, who should find enjoyment in stringing everything together.

His cast certainly helps, with Jake Gyllenhaal giving his best performance in difficult circumstances. Monaghan has an awkward and somewhat thankless task repeating the same dialogue and expressions. Her role is actually quite delicate and she does a stellar job making you believe someone could fall for her in such a short space of time. Farmiga may spend most of the film sitting at a desk, but her eyes scream empathy, and the Oscar nominee gives her soldier a subtle depth on the back of non-existent character background.

Those who worshipped at the altar of the moody atmospherics of Moon may be disappointed with the more mainstream leanings of Jones' follow up. However, Source Code works without being overtly perplexing or, crucially, repetitive.