Source Code

This article is about the film. For the software concept, see Source code. For "source coding", see Data compression.
Source Code (film)

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Duncan Jones
Produced by
Written by Ben Ripley
Starring
Music by Chris P. Bacon
Cinematography Don Burgess
Edited by Paul Hirsch
Production
company
Distributed by Summit Entertainment
Release dates
  • March 11, 2011 (2011-03-11) (SXSW)
  • April 1, 2011 (2011-04-01) (United States)
  • April 20, 2011 (2011-04-20) (France[1])
Running time
 93 minutes
Country
Language English
Budget $32 million[3]
Box office $147.3 million[4]

Source Code is a 2011 French-American science fiction film directed by Duncan Jones, written by Ben Ripley, and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, and Vera Farmiga. The film had its world premiere on March 11, 2011 at South by Southwest,[5] and was released by Summit Entertainment on April 1, 2011 in North America and Europe.

The film received acclaim from critics upon its release and became a box office success, grossing over $147.3 million worldwide.[4][6] Plans for a television adaptation at CBS were announced shortly after the film was released. However, these plans were scrapped in December 2014 in favor of a film sequel. The sequel is in development with Mark Gordon returning to produce and Anna Foerster attached to direct.

Plot

U.S. Army pilot Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal), last aware of being on a mission in Afghanistan, wakes up on a commuter train[7] to Chicago, at 7:40 am. To the world around him – including his traveling partner Christina Warren (Michelle Monaghan) and the bathroom mirror – he appears to be Sean Fentress, a school teacher. As he comes to grips with this revelation, the train explodes, killing everyone aboard.

Stevens regains consciousness inside a dingy dim cockpit, leaking oil. Communicating through a video screen, Air Force Captain Colleen Goodwin (Vera Farmiga) verifies Stevens' identity, and insists he stay "on mission" to find the bomber before a large "dirty bomb" hits downtown Chicago in six hours. Inside the "Source Code" experimental device designed by scientist Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright), he experiences the last eight minutes of another compatible person's life within an alternative timeline.[lower-alpha 1]

Stevens is unwillingly sent back into the Source Code repeatedly in frustrating, exhausting attempts to learn the bomber's identity. He tries to warn authorities on the train and flee with Christina, escaping the explosion. Other times he cannot locate or disarm the bomb and dies on the train. But Rutledge insists the alternate timeline is not real. It is revealed that he has been "with them" for two months since being reported killed in action in Afghanistan. He is comatose and missing most of his body, hooked up to neural sensors. The cockpit capsule is in his imagination, his brain's way of making sense of a missing environment. A confused and frustrated Stevens asks, "As one soldier to another, am I dead?" Angry to learn that he is on life support, he asks to be disconnected after the mission. Rutledge agrees.

Stevens catches the bomber Derek Frost (Michael Arden), who leaves his wallet behind to fake his own death, and gets off at the last stop before Chicago. In one run-through, Frost kills both Fentress and Christina, and flees in a rented white van. Stevens remembers the license number and direction and the authorities use this information to catch the terrorist, preventing him from detonating the dirty bomb. The mission finished, Rutledge reneges on his promise, ordering Goodwin to wipe Stevens' memory for a future mission. Stevens convinces Goodwin to allow one more try, to save everyone on the train, despite Rutledge's insistence that everyone on the train had already been killed in the explosion.

Stevens is sent back into the Source Code where he disarms the bomb, subdues Frost and handcuffs him to a handrail inside the train. He reports the bomber to authorities, sends an email to Captain Goodwin, then calls to reconcile with his estranged father under the guise of a fellow soldier. He asks Christina what she would do if she knew that she only had seconds left to live, and starts to kiss her. At the same time, Goodwin approaches the air-tight chamber that contains the torso of Stevens' comatose mutilated body, disconnects the life support, and Stevens dies. Rutledge bangs on the outer door in vain. The scene cuts to Stevens finishing the kiss with Christina inside the Source Code, revealing that the alternate timeline of the Source Code has become real, contrary to what was proposed by Rutledge. They continue on the train, and then walk through downtown Chicago to the Cloud Gate, a sculpture whose image Stevens saw during transitions out of the Source Code. This prompts Stevens to ask Christina "do you believe in fate?" As they stand in front of the mirrored sculpture, Stevens' reflection in the Cloud Gate is seen to be the image of Sean Fentress.

When the alternative-timeline Goodwin arrives for work at Nellis Air Force Base that morning, she receives the email from Stevens. While news breaks about the failed bomber on the Chicago train, the email informs Goodwin that they have changed history, and Goodwin seemingly recalls something. The email asks her to reassure this timeline's Stevens that "everything is gonna be okay." The scene cuts to Stevens who, in this timeline, is still comatose, hooked up to the neural sensors in the airtight chamber.

Cast

Production

Pre-production

David Hahn, the boy depicted in the 2003 made-for-television documentary The Nuclear Boy Scout,[8] was the inspiration for the antagonist Derek Frost.[9] 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:[10]

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."[11]

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.[12]

Filming

Principal photography began on March 1, 2010, in Montreal, Quebec, and ended on April 29, 2010.[13] 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. Initially, some filming was scheduled at the Ottawa Train Station in Ottawa, Ontario,[14] but cancelled for lack of an agreement with VIA Rail.[15]

Post-production

Editing took place in Los Angeles. In July 2010, the film was in the visual effects stage of post-production.[16] Most of the VFX work was handled by Montreal studios, including Modus FX, Rodeo FX, Oblique FX, and Fly Studio.[17] Jones had confirmed that the film's soundtrack would be composed by Clint Mansell, in his second collaboration with the composer.[18] However, it was later announced that Mansell would no longer score the movie's soundtrack due to time constraints.[19]

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 $92,620,470 $147,332,697 #1095 Unknown $32,000,000 [4]

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.[20] The film grossed $54,712,227 during its run with midnight screenings in 2,961 locations.[21] Overall the film made $147,812,094 and debuted at #2 on its opening weekend.[20]

Critical reception

Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
Source Code 92% (243 reviews)[22] 74/100 (41 reviews)[23]

Source Code received acclaim from critics. Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 92% "Certified Fresh" approval rating with an average rating of 7.5/10, based on an aggregation of 243 reviews. The site's consensus states: "Finding the human story amidst the action, director Duncan Jones and charming Jake Gyllenhaal craft a smart, satisfying sci-fi thriller."[6] Metacritic awarded the film an average score of 74/100 based on 41 reviews.[24] Critics have compared Source Code with both the 1993 film Groundhog Day,[25][26][27] and British film director Tony Scott's 2006 time-altering science fiction film Déjà Vu: in the latter case, the similarity of plotline in the protagonist's determination to change the past was highlighted, and his emotional commitment to save the victim, rather than simply try to discover the identity of the perpetrator of the crime.[28] Alternatively, it has been described as a "cross between Groundhog Day and Murder on the Orient Express,"[29] while The Arizona Republic film critic Bill Goodykoontz says that comparing Source Code to Groundhog Day is doing a disservice to Source Code's enthralling "mind game."[30]

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times called the film: "Confounding, exhilarating, challenging – and the best movie I've seen so far in 2011."[6] 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."[31] Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times called Ben Ripley's script "cleverly constructed" and a film "crisply directed by Duncan Jones." He also praised the "cast with the determination and ability to really sell its story."[32] CNN called Ripley's script "ingenious" and the film "as authoritative an exercise in fractured storytelling as Christopher Nolan's Memento." He also commented that Gyllenhaal is "more compelling here than he's been in a long time."[29] IGN gave it 2.5 stars out of 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."

Accolades

Year Group Category Recipient Result
2011 Scream Awards[33] Best Science Fiction Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated
2011 Bradbury Award[34] Bradbury Award Ben Ripley and Duncan Jones Nominated
2012 Hugo Award[35] Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form Nominated

Home media

Source Code was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc simultaneously in the US on July 26, 2011,[36][37] with the UK release on DVD and Blu-ray Disc (as well as a combined DVD/Blu-ray Disc package) on August 15, 2011.[38] In the UK, there was also a DVD released featuring a 3D cover.

Sequel

A planned television series for the network CBS was announced in 2011,[39] and was revealed to be in development on January 4, 2012, with Mark Gordon and Steve Maeda as producers.[40] The planned television series was cancelled in December 2014 and, instead, it was announced that a film sequel is in development. The film will incorporate ideas originally intended for the television series.[41]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ It is stated that eight minutes is the length of short-term memory, and that one of the blast victims had neural pathways similar enough to Stevens' to allow Source Code to take advantage of a quantum effect reminiscent of a light bulb being switched off, allowing this eight-minute period to be retroactively accessed for some time after the target person's death as a way of gleaning information critical to the prevention of additional, near-future terrorist attacks. It is believed that these alternative time-lines are not "real" and cease to continue after the subject's death; they can therefore supposedly be employed only to gain information.

References

  1. ↑ "Source Code - released". AlloCiné. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Source Code". British Film Institute. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  3. ↑ Kaufman, Amy (March 31, 2011). "Movie Projector: "Hop" will jump over rivals this weekend". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 "Source Code (2011)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  5. ↑ Fernandez, Jay A. (December 16, 2010). "'Moon' Director Duncan Jones Returns to SXSW With 'Source Code'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 "Source Code Movie Reviews, Pictures". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  7. ↑ Wronski, Richard (March 9, 2011). "Compared to Metra train's movie fate, delays look tame". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  8. ↑ "The Nuclear Boy Scout". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Duncan Jones tells us what really happened at the end of Source Code". iO9. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Practice Makes Perfect". Writers Guild of America. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  11. ↑ Powers, Lindsay; Messina, Kim (April 1, 2010). "How Jake Gyllenhaal Wooed Duncan Jones to Direct 'Source Code'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  12. ↑ Richards, Dean (April 1, 2011). "Gyllenhaal says the 'Bean' could be metaphor for 'Source Code'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Source Code Filming Completes Today". ManMadeMovies. April 29, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Source Code filming in Ottawa's train station". Weirdland. January 13, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Entertainment". Ottawa Sun. March 17, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Exclusive: Duncan Jones on MOON, Source Code & Judge Dredd". ManMadeMovies. July 28, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Source Code - Company Credits". Internet Movie Database.
  18. ↑ Warmoth, Brian (September 21, 2010). "'Source Code' Bringing Duncan Jones And Clint Mansell Back Together". MTV. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Duncan Jones". Twitter. December 15, 2010. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  20. 1 2 "Weekend Box Office Results for April 1-3, 2011". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Source Code (2011) – Daily Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  22. ↑ "Source Code". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Source Code". Metacritic. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Source Code Reviews, Ratings, Credits". Metacritic. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  25. ↑ "'Source Code': A 'Groundhog Day' With Scientific Mumbo-Jumbo". TheWrap. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  26. ↑ "'Source Code' is a disaster 'Groundhog Day' with twists". Sign On San Diego. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Peter Travers: 'Source Code' is Confusing But Exciting". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  28. ↑ Holmes, Brent (April 6, 2011). "Source Code feels a lot like Deja Vu". Western Gazette. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  29. 1 2 Charity, Tom (April 1, 2011). "'Source Code' a smart, original sci-fi thriller". CNN. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  30. ↑ "Arizona Republic: "Movies: 'Source Code' 4 Stars". AZ Central. March 30, 2011.
  31. ↑ "Review: Source Code". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  32. ↑ Turan, Kenneth (April 1, 2011). "Movie review: 'Source Code'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  33. ↑ Murray, Rebecca. "2011 SCREAM Awards List of Nominees". About.com. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  34. ↑ "2011 Nebula Awards Nominees Announced". A SFWA. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  35. ↑ "Hugo Nominees 2012". A SFWA. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  36. ↑ "Source Code Blu-ray (2011)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  37. ↑ "Source Code". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  38. ↑ "Source Code Film & TV". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  39. ↑ Rose, Lacey. "'Source Code' to Be Adapted for TV at CBS (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  40. ↑ "Hottest TV projects of 2012: 'Bewitched,' 'Under the Dome,' 'Flintstones'". Entertainment Weekly. January 4, 2012.
  41. ↑ McNary, Dave (December 2, 2014). "'Source Code' Sequel in the Works (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.

External links

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