A smart thriller that's like a breath of fresh air. It also happens to be brisk and sensitive for such a high-tech concept.

Think "Groundhog Day" with explosions. A former Army captain is placed into a top-secret military program. It allows him to access a memory that lasts 8 minutes. He must find the bomber behind a train explosion so that an even worse attack can be prevented.

Jake Gylenhaal rebounds after his disappointing films last year and becomes a hero. The rest of the cast do great as well, which is the reason why the chemistry works. That, in itself, adds a human element that elevates the film. The scientific aspect of it (behind the technology) is thoughtfully done. Action (even aboard the train) is exciting and actually easy to understand, thanks to smooth editing. How this doesn't manage to feel short is amazing. The direction by Duncan Jones is superb; now "Moon" seems to captivate my interest. While the script is mostly terrific, it takes a very odd 11th-hour turn into... ????

Yeah, but it seemed inevitable. Not to mention, the opening wasn't well-done. However, the film gets better. Runs out of steam though in the last act.

"Source Code" just may be the most original film of this past year, but isn't quite as great as I was hoping for. But it's a fine blend of sci-fi, mystery, and suspense that ends up going farther than its premise would usually allow it to go.