𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕.

Source Code is a 2011 U.S. science fiction action thriller film directed by Duncan Jones and written by Ben Ripley. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Captain Colter Stevens of the U.S. Army, who is sent into an eight-minute virtual re-creation of a real-life train explosion, and tasked with determining the identity of the terrorist who bombed it.

If you've seen one, you probably feel like you've seen them all. Borrowing from the tropes popularized by the likes of 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒉𝒐𝒈'𝒔 𝑫𝒂𝒚, what could be presumed as a tedious time with 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒅𝒆’s antics is surprisingly engaging instead. Named after technology utilized in its own world, by no surprise is the title a direct reference to programming for those familiar with the lingo; for lack of better phrasing it is a set of instructions written in a particular language that forms the foundation of a software program and outlines the actions a computer should perform to execute a specific task.
Luckily, Ripley’s screenplay has its head on straight in that its character dynamics are prioritized over half-assed attempts at coming across as “brilliant”, which paves the way for Colter’s repetitive attempts at making things “right” all-the-more interesting; additionally provided is some understanding as to how he got to be in the position he is in, both literally and otherwise.

This praise isn't without caveats or limits. As 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒅𝒆 tries wrapping up and cutting off any dead ends the narrative doesn’t seem to lean one way or another in of where Colter’s motivation for action stems from: specifically in regards to the well-being of his company. Barring any potential for spoilers, I guess I will just call it like it is: The romantic subplot is borderline gimmicky, and one that is introduced under seemingly false pretenses, if not inorganically given the seriousness of the context in which it is occurring. This isn’t to say there’s a problem with suggesting a foundation for intimacy can be born out of experiencing the same eight minutes of what is effectively trauma with one person, but if one is going to be so bold as to sneak romance into a thriller maybe what’s making one half of the whole couple “tick” should be spoken on with great conviction; not in a way that undermines specific subjects with an almost disingenuousness, as is the case with “civic duty”, amongst others.

But, I digress. 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒅𝒆 obviously has some real world applications particularly in the digital age;Virtual Reality training is on the ride in the military on the of how inexpensive it is compared to traditional methods, with advancements allowing for replicable and immersive conditions that would otherwise be lacking. Moreover, 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒅𝒆 primary point of contention as far as perpetrators go is informed by the psych of those with similar dispositions: Ripley specifically pointing to David Hahn (The ‘Radioactive Boy Scout’) amongst a collection of people that could be considered ‘intelligent, but misguided’. In so many words, while this narrative proves shameless in what it superimposes as possible in a serious scenario, by some margin it does preserve irable merit.
(This is an interview done with Duncan Jones that reiterates some of what I have summarized in this write-up. Interestingly, he does implicate the producers as wanting an alternate ending that would have brought up ethical questions related to the ability to manipulate time, though that point isn’t elaborate on too much more….. ->
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N86oOrwOEoc )

All things considered, 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒅𝒆 has earned some due credit in the realm of knowing what its viewers need to keep their attention, and without some pseudo-intellect gargling at the wayside if nothing else. Dependent on the concept of ‘time leaping’ and alternative universes’ it certainly isn’t making use of a something that hasn’t been recycled through as a plot device in recent years: though here it is for the sake of holding on to hope for its primary character in the glow of questionable or counterintuitive decisions of which they are exploited. All that to say: Every moment you change your life you potentially touch someone else's, and if that’s the only message 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒅𝒆 is trying to accentuate then I have little problem condoning it.