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Source Code

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This article is about the film. For the software concept, see Source code. For "source coding", see Data compression.
Source Code
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDuncan Jones
Written byBen Ripley
Produced byMark Gordon
Jordan Wynn
Philippe Rousselet
StarringJake Gyllenhaal
Michelle Monaghan
Vera Farmiga
Jeffrey Wright
CinematographyDon Burgess
Edited byPaul Hirsch
Music byChris P. Bacon
Production
companies
The Mark Gordon Company
Vendôme Pictures
Distributed bySummit Entertainment
Release dates
  • April 1, 2011 (2011-04-01) (United States)
  • April 20, 2011 (2011-04-20) (France)
[1]
Running time
93 minutes
CountriesTemplate:Film US
Template:Film France
LanguageEnglish
Budget$32 million[2]
Box office$147,332,697 [3]

Source Code is a 2011 American science fiction techno-thriller film directed by Duncan Jones, written by Ben Ripley, and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Russell Peters and Jeffrey Wright. The film had its world premiere on March 11, 2011 at South by Southwest (SXSW),[4] and was released by Summit Entertainment on April 1, in North America and Europe.

Plot

Army helicopter pilot Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal), last aware of being on a mission in Afghanistan, wakes up on a commuter train (Chicago Commuter Rail, which resembles the real life Metra) traveling to Chicago. He finds that to the world around him – including to his traveling partner Christina Warren (Michelle Monaghan) and the bathroom mirror – he appears as Sean Fentress, a school teacher. As he comes to grips with this revelation, the train car explodes, killing everyone aboard and derailing it and a tanker train traveling in the other direction.

Stevens regains consciousness inside an unfamiliar cockpit. Through a screen, Air Force Captain Colleen Goodwin (Vera Farmiga) verifies Stevens’ identity. She explains Stevens is in the “Source Code”, an experimental device created by Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright), scientist for Beleaguered Castle (a military unit named after the card game), that allows its user to experience the last eight minutes of another compatible person’s life within an alternate timeline. Stevens is being asked to use Source Code to discover the location of a bomb aboard the train and identify the bomber who detonated it. Goodwin explains that the train explosion occurred that morning, and was a warning by the bomber as a precursor to a larger dirty bomb that would be detonated in downtown Chicago. Though Stevens' actions cannot change the past and save the lives aboard the train, identifying the bomber in the alternate timeline will prevent the deaths of millions more in this one.

Stevens discovers he cannot go past eight minutes in the Source Code despite exiting the train before the bomb detonates and continues to rule out passengers suspected to be the bomber, as well as developing increasingly strong romantic feelings and empathy for Christina. Within these jumps, he learns that these events occurred two months after an incident while on duty in Afghanistan that reportedly killed him. Once he discovers this, he verbally accosts Goodwin for more information. She is forced to explain that the remains of his body are on life-support at the Source Code facility while his mind is hooked up to its computer systems, the cockpit being a mental projection of his own mind to cope with the experience. Angered to discover this, Stevens makes a deal to complete the mission, demanding that they terminate his life support after it is completed, to which Dr. Rutledge agrees.

Back in the Source Code, Stevens eventually identifies a young man, Derek Frost (Michael Arden), as the bomber, and the rented white van that he will use to convey the dirty bomb into the center of town. On his return, his information is successfully used by the military to capture Frost before he can trigger the bomb in Chicago. Stevens is praised as a hero, but in private, Rutledge tells Goodwin to renege on the deal and instead wipe Stevens’ memory, so he can be used the next time there is such an incident. In talking to Goodwin, Stevens realizes that the promise has been violated, and convinces Goodwin to let him return to Source Code once more after which she will disable his life support against Rutledge’s orders.

Once back aboard the train, Stevens disarms the bomb, subdues Frost, and handcuffs him to a railing. Stevens calls the authorities to identify Frost and inform them of the location of the dirty bomb. Stevens takes Frost's phone to send an email to Goodwin describing the incident. He then calls his estranged father under the guise of a fellow soldier, mending the emotional distance from their past. He challenges an embittered comic (Russell Peters) to perform a stand-up routine on the train, perpetuating laughter throughout the entire train car, and then takes Christina aside. Asking her what she would do if she knew that she only had seconds left to live, Stevens begins to kiss her as his last few seconds run out. As promised, at this exact moment, Goodwin disables his life-support — the scene reveals his actual, physical body as severely mutilated and comatose. Time freezes, but Stevens is surprised to find himself finishing the kiss, still aboard the train with Christina, well beyond the eight minutes. In a flash of understanding, Stevens realizes he remains in the alternate timeline of the un-bombed train. The train arrives safely in Chicago, and he and Christina ditch work to walk together and discuss their future.

Later that morning, Goodwin arrives for work at Nellis Air Force Base and receives the email sent by Stevens, just as news breaks of a failed bombing attempt in Chicago. The email explains that the Source Code effectively allows the user to change history within alternate timelines. Stevens' email ends with him telling Goodwin that when his alternate self in this timeline (comatose and on life support) is used in a future Source Code mission, Goodwin should help him and tell him that “everything is going to be OK.”

Cast

Production

Pre-production

David Hahn, the boy depicted in the 2003 made-for-television documentary The Nuclear Boy Scout,[5] was the inspiration for the antagonist Derek Frost.[6] In an article published by the Writers Guild of America, screenwriter Ben Ripley is described as providing the original pitch to the studios responsible for producing Source Code:[7]

Ripley first came up with the idea for Source Code, in which government operative Colter Stevens repeatedly relives the eight minutes leading up to a terrorist train bombing in hopes of finding the bomber, he had no intention of writing it on spec. Having established himself in Hollywood largely doing "studio rewrites on horror movies," he felt a solid pitch would do the trick. Unfortunately, it didn't. "I sat down with a few producers, and the first couple just looked at me like I was nuts," confesses Ripley. "Ultimately, I had to put it on the page to make my case."

After seeing Moon, Gyllenhaal lobbied for Jones to direct Source Code; Jones liked the fast-paced script; as he later said, "there were all sorts of challenges and puzzles and I kind of like solving puzzles, so it was kind of fun for me to work out how to achieve all these difficult things that were set up in the script."[8]

In the ending scene, Jake Gyllenhaal's and Michelle Monaghan's characters are seen walking through Millennium Park, and make their way to the Cloud Gate. In a 2011 interview, Gyllenhaal discussed how director Duncan Jones felt the structure was a metaphor for the movie's subject matter, and aimed for it to feature at the beginning and end of the movie.[9]

Filming

Principal photography began on March 1, 2010 in Montreal, Canada and ended on April 29, 2010.[10] Several scenes were shot in Chicago, Illinois, specifically at Millennium Park and the Main Building at the Illinois Institute of Technology, although the sign showing the name of the latter, in the intersection of 31st Street and S LaSalle Street was edited out.[citation needed]

Post-production

Editing took place in Los Angeles. In July 2010, the film was in the visual effects stage of post-production.[11] Jones had confirmed that the film's soundtrack would be composed by Clint Mansell, in his second collaboration with the composer.[12] However, it was later announced that Mansell would no longer score the movie's soundtrack due to time constraints,[13] and he was replaced by Chris P. Bacon.[13]

Release

Box office performance

Film Release date Box office revenue Box office ranking Budget Reference
United States United States International Worldwide All time United States All time worldwide
Source Code April 2011 $54,712,227 $68,566,391 $123,278,618 #1095 Unknown $32,000,000 [14]

Source Code was released in theaters on April 1, 2011. In the United States and Canada, Source Code was released theatrically in 2,961 conventional theaters.[15] The film grossed $5,053,494 during its opening day with midnight screenings in 2,961 locations.[16] Overall the film made $14,812,094 and debuted at #2 on its opening weekend.[15]

Critical reception

Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic Entertainment Weekly
All Critics Top Critics Audience
Source Code 91% (230 reviews)[17] 86% (37 reviews)[17] 81% (97,010 reviews)[17] 74/100 (41 reviews)[18] B+[19]

Source Code has received highly positive ratings by reviewers. Review aggregate Rotten Tomatoes reports that 91% of critics have given the film a positive review, based on 230 reviews, with an average score of 7.4/10. Rotten Tomatoes summarizes the critical consensus thusly: "Finding the human story amidst the action, director Duncan Jones and charming Jake Gyllenhaal craft a smart, satisfying sci-fi thriller."[20] Metacritic has awarded the film an average score 74/100 based on 41 reviews.[21] Critics have compared Source Code with the 1993 film Groundhog Day,[22][23][24] or called it a "cross between Groundhog Day and Murder on the Orient Express."[25] Arizona Republic film critic Bill Goodykoontz says comparing Source Code to Groundhog Day is doing a disservice to Source Code's enthralling "mind game."[26]

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times called the film "Confounding, exhilarating, challenging – and the best movie I've seen so far in 2011."[20] Roger Ebert gave the film 3.5 stars out of 4, calling it "an ingenious thriller" where "you forgive the preposterous because it takes you to the perplexing."[27] Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times called Ben Ripley's script "cleverly constructed" and a film "crisply directed by Duncan Jones", while also praising the "cast with the determination and ability to really sell its story."[28] CNN called Ripley's script "ingenious" and the film "as authoritative an exercise in fractured storytelling as Christopher Nolan's Memento"; Gyllenhaal is "more compelling here than he's been in a long time."[25] IGN gave it a 2.5/5, saying "Gyllenhaal brings sincerity and warmth to his role, but his conviction only helps the movie so far before it ultimately buckles under the weight of its plot mechanics." Lumino Magazine Reviewer Matt Kolthof, loved the film giving it a perfect 4 out of 4 stars, saying "Altogether the film holds itself strong with powerful performances, a productive storyline, and a suspense that leads to blazing, breakneck action and passionate romance." He also related to such films as Star Wars, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, as it had a '70's sci-fi feel to it, remarking "This movie really rejuvenates old time sci-fi films." [29]

Accolades

Year Group Category Recipient Result
2011 Scream Awards[30] Best Science Fiction Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated
2011 Bradbury Award[31] Bradbury Award Ben Ripley & Duncan Jones Nominated

Home media

Source Code was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc simultaneously in the US on July 26, 2011,[32][33] with the UK release on DVD and Blu-ray Disc (as well as a combined DVD/Blu-ray Disc package) on August 15, 2011.[34] In the UK, there was also a DVD released featuring a 3D cover.

Possible television series

On January 4, 2012, it was revealed that a television series is in development to air on CBS with Mark Gordon and Steve Maeda as producers.[35]

References

  1. ^ "Source Code - released". AlloCiné. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
  2. ^ Kaufman, Amy (March 31, 2011). "Movie Projector: "Hop" will jump over rivals this weekend". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  3. ^ "Source Code (2011)". The-Numbers.com. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  4. ^ Fernandez, Jay A. (2010-12-16). "'Moon' Director Duncan Jones Returns to SXSW With 'Source Code'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  5. ^ "The Nuclear Boy Scout". IMDb. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  6. ^ "Duncan Jones tells us what really happened at the end of Source Code". Retrieved 2011-05-08.
  7. ^ "Practice Makes Perfect". WGA.org. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  8. ^ Powers, Lindsay; Messina, Kim (2010-04-01). "How Jake Gyllenhaal Wooed Duncan Jones to Direct 'Source Code'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  9. ^ Richards, Dean (2011-04-01). "Gyllenhaal says the 'Bean' could be metaphor for 'Source Code'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  10. ^ "Source Code Filming Completes Today". ManMadeMovies.co.uk. 2010-04-29. Retrieved 2010-11-22.
  11. ^ "Exclusive: Duncan Jones on MOON, Source Code & Judge Dredd". ManMadeMovies.co.uk. 2010-07-28. Retrieved 2010-11-22.
  12. ^ Warmoth, Brian (2010-09-21). "Source Code' Bringing Duncan Jones And Clint Mansell Back Together". MoviesBlog.MTV.com. Retrieved 2010-11-22.
  13. ^ a b "Duncan Jones". Twitter. 2010-12-15. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
  14. ^ "Source Code (2011)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
  15. ^ a b "Weekend Box Office Results for April 1-3, 2011". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
  16. ^ "Source Code (2011) – Daily Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
  17. ^ a b c "Source Code". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
  18. ^ "Source Code". Metacritic. CBS. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
  19. ^ "Source Code". Entertainment Weekly. 2011-04-05. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
  20. ^ a b "Source Code Movie Reviews, Pictures". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
  21. ^ "Source Code Reviews, Ratings, Credits". Metacritic. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  22. ^ "'Source Code': A 'Groundhog Day' With Scientific Mumbo-Jumbo". TheWrap.com. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  23. ^ "'Source code' is a disaster 'groundhog day' with twists". SignOnSanDiego.com. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  24. ^ "Peter Travers: 'Source Code' is Confusing But Exciting". RollingStone.com. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  25. ^ a b Charity, Tom (April 1, 2011). "'Source Code' a smart, original sci-fi thriller". CNN. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
  26. ^ "Arizona Republic: "Movies: Source Code 4 Stars." Goodykoontz. March 30, 2011"
  27. ^ "Source Code". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 31, 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ Turan, Kenneth; Critic, Film (2011-04-01). "Movie review: 'Source Code'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  29. ^ (url=http://www.luminomagazine.com/mw/content/view/3187/4)
  30. ^ Murray, Rebecca. "2011 SCREAM Awards List of Nominees". About.com. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
  31. ^ "2011 Nebula Awards Nominees Announced". A SFWA. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  32. ^ "Source Code [Blu-ray] (2011)". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-07-08.
  33. ^ "Source Code". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-07-08.
  34. ^ "Source Code Film & TV". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-07-08.
  35. ^ Hottest TV projects of 2012: 'Bewitched,' 'Under the Dome,' 'Flintstones,' more
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