Source Code, the sophomore effort from director Duncan Jones, who many are not aware is David Bowie's son, certainly targets a different crowd than his first film Moon. Now aiming towards a broader audience with what will most likely be a blockbuster hit, Jones manages to keep his touch for adding interesting plot twists that result in another intelligent ending.
Captain Colter Stevens, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, finds himself in a chamber unaware of his location. With some explanations from a military official, Vera Farmiga's character, and the man behind it all, Jeffrey Wright, Stevens soon finds out that he is taking the identity of a train passenger named Sean Fentress. He has 8 minutes to find the bomber on a train that has a fatal outcome after Stevens' eighth minute in Fentress's shoes.
As Stevens continues to go back into that morning's events, he struggles to complete his mission while falling for Christina Warren, played by a lovable Michelle Monaghan. In a role that could be played by a typical action star, Gyllenhaal creates depth in his character, especially with an emotional phone call with his father, causing the audience to genuinely hope for his success.
With a handful of unexpected plot twists, and some confusion in the beginning, Jones is able to bring everything together with an excellent conclusion that will certainly have the crowd conversing when they leave the theater.
Though more mainstream than Moon, Duncan's second film is just as good and soon more people will be aware of his talent. Much better than the claimed to be thought-provoking movie The Adjustment Bureau, which some critics have considered the next Inception, the enjoyable performances, Duncan's direction, and the overall interesting idea make Source Code the one to be held to the same standards as Christopher Nolan's latest film.
Duncan Jones is definitely a director on the rise and at the rate he is going we can expect more great films from him. Just don't compare him to his father.
