Why So Blu?

Source Code (Blu-ray Review)

Source Code stars Jake Gyllenhaal who is one of my favorite actors, and whose name I am unable to spell correctly.  I can never remember how many l’s and a’s there are and my goal for this review is to spell it correctly throughout.  Up until recently I thought that Gyllenhaal was about 20 years old and that made me a dirty old woman for having a crush on him.  I’m pleased to have found out that he is actually 30 years old and that’s not so bad since I am a mere 33 years old myself.  Source Code marks the second effort from director Duncan Jones who previously directed the well-regarded Moon.

Film  

Jake Gyllenhaal wakes up on a train across from Christina Warren (Michelle Monaghan).  She is unfamiliar to him, as is the name she calls him – Sean Fentress.  When he sees his reflection he realizes even his face is unknown to him.  Eight minutes later a bomb goes off on the train and Gyllenhaal wakes up inside a pod.  Vera Farmiga is Capt. Colleen Goodwin.  She is visible through a computer monitor and tells Gyllenhaal that his name is Colter Stevens and he has a mission.  Goodwin wants to know who bombed the train.  When Stevens can’t answer that question, he is sent back again and has the same eight minutes to figure it out.  The source code allows Stevens to take over the body of Sean Fentress in the last eight minutes of his life.

Stevens does not know where he is, how he got there and has no memory of the Source Code project.  Goodwin is there to walk him through the process and his only source of information.  She doesn’t want to give him much information other than the fact that someone on the train has planted a bomb, and they need to know who.  The same bomber needs to be identified in order to prevent the detonation of a later dirty bomb which will kill millions of people in Chicago.

Stevens is willing to comply but he wants to stop the train from blowing up as well.  The creator of the Source Code, Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright) explains that Stevens cannot alter the past.  He cannot save the passengers, including Christina.  This is very hard for Stevens to accept because is able to interact with the passengers.  Each time Stevens replays the eight minutes he learns more about the passengers on the train, and gets closer to Christina.  Stevens is instructed to focus on the mission, but is certain he can identify the bomber and save Christina’s life.

Any additional information about the plot would be a spoiler to those who have not yet seen the movie.  It’s unclear whether Stevens is alive or dead, and where exactly the place is he keeps waking up in.   It will have to suffice to say that the ending is unique and my friend and I who saw it in the movie theater are not even in agreement as to whether it is a happy ending or not.   Unlike a lot of films with a bit plot twist at the end, Source Code is not “ruined” once you know the ending.  The film was equally as enjoyable the second time around even though I knew where it was heading.

Video  

Source Code is presented in a 1.78:1 ratio, 1080p AVC encode from Summit Entertainment.  The details are sharp and crisp and I found myself noticing the stubble on Jake Gyllenhaal’s face and the detail on the carpeting of the train.  The fire of the train explosions is rich but does not appear computer generated (although it probably was) and skin tones are even and consistent throughout.

Audio  

Source Code’s DTS HD Master Audio track is a fine compliment to the visual.  I was able to hear amazing levels of detail including the coffee hitting Colter’s shoe.  The dialogue is clear and more intelligible than I remember in the movie theater.  The repeated train explosions caused my living room to vibrate as if the explosion had happened next door.  This was an excellent addition to the audio track but a little complicated for me as I was trying to watch Source Code while my three year old was napping.  After the first explosion almost rocked me out of my Lazy-Boy, I made sure to keep the remote in hand, as I knew more explosions were imminent.

Special Features  

Source Code contains the following special features:

• Audio Commentary with Director Duncan Jones, Writer Ben Ripley and Actor Jake Gyllenhaal.  The rhythm of the commentary gets better as it goes on.  All involved to have insightful and interesting viewpoints on the details of the film and the experience making it.  I’m pleased to see Gyllenhaal speak intelligently as I am constantly reminded about the lack of intelligent conversation that comes from my other celebrity crush, Matthew McConaughey.
• Access:  Source Code – You can select Launch Access:  Source Code to basically play all, or go to set preferences and watch certain events in a picture in picture mode as the movie plays.  With this selection you can turn off or on any the trivia selections containing the following options:
• Focal Points
• Expert Intel
• Cast and Crew Insight
• Did You Know?
• Tales of Time Travel

The Access Source Code’s picture in a picture pop ups are too distracting to view while trying to watch the movie.  I do not recommend playing this without seeing the movie first, uninterrupted.

Final Thoughts  

Source Code is a very interesting movie and it did an excellent job of tackling some pretty weighty scientific notions while making the movie understandable and accessible to those without a Ph.D.  The Access Source Code Special feature got into a lot more of the science and I don’t think it was all that necessary.  I would have rather heard more from the actors about their experiences on the movie and less about some random facts.  Source Code is well written, acted, and directed and I’m glad to have it as a part of my Blu-ray collection.  Both the audio and visual on the Blu-ray were compelling and I strongly recommend skipping the DVD on this one (which I admit I have not seen), and paying a little extra for the Blu-ray.

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