This was a pleasant surprise.

This film is a sci-fi thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal. A man (Gyllenhaal) awakens on a train and seems a bit disoriented. Initially, it appears that he's just a bit groggy and dazed as if he'd just awoken suddenly, but it becomes quickly apparent he has no idea why he's on a train or where he is. His traveling partner (the lovely Michelle Monaghan) seems both confused and bemused at his apparent bewilderment. She calls him by the name Sean, which he is quick to claim that his name is actually Captain Colter Stevens, and that he has no idea who this 'Sean' is. A few minutes later, a bomb explodes, destroying the train.

Greg/Captain Colter awakens yet again, this time strapped inside what appears to be a small capsule. A woman in a military uniform (Vera Farminga) appears in front of him on a television monitor and requests his report. Still completely confused, he claims to have no idea where he is. After a brief orientation session, at which point he appears to have regained some of his memory, he is told he being sent back to the train, and that he has 8 minutes to find the bomb and complete his mission.

Again he awakens on the train, stuff happens, the bomb explodes, the awakens in the capsule, ad infinitum...

A couple of complaints:
- I didn't like the ending, which felt tacked on to please the mainstream. It was a typical Hollywood ending. Bleh.
- I am a fan of Ms. Farminga, but I feel the character here didn't give her good material with which to work. Frankly, her character just felt like a cardboard prop used to propel the plot. The actor/actress could have been replaced by anyone. It was a shameful waste of a wonderful talent.

Other than those two minor issues, I thought the film's time loop mechanic was done well, and the film remained taut throughout its 90 minute running time. Recommended.