Day 129: "Just eight minutes, Goodwin."

Source Code.  Very cool movie, this.  A mind-bending, time altering, WTF ending kind of cool movie.  Combine equal parts Matrix, Inception, and throw in a dash of Phillip K. Dick, and you've got  Source Code.  This is what can happen when a movie is well written and not absolutely reliant on special effects.  The effects are there, but the story is the main driving force here.  An American combat pilot regains consciousness on a Chicago commuter train, tries to figure out what's happening, and eight minutes later, dies in a bomb explosion on the train.  He soon discovers that he is an operative in a new experimental program that allows him to relive the last eight minutes of a "compatible" subject/victim of the explosion he just experienced, which actually occurred earlier that same morning.  By going back and reliving those minutes, he is able to investigate the mystery of the bomber and figure out his own situation.  This is one of the best mind-bending movies I have seen.  Honestly, I liked it better than Inception.  The science is completely wonky and conveniently hides behind the unfathomable reaches of "quantum physics" and "algorithmic calculus."  Hooray for spooky science!!  The story takes a bunch of twists and turns before getting to its conclusion, but what a fun ride.

Jake Gyllenhaal is the pilot: Colter Stevens.  I never thought the looks of confusion that he showed in earlier films would ever pay off, but he does a great job here as the confused, disoriented hero.  Michelle Monaghan is the love interest/motivation for Stevens to get this mystery solved, and for her part also does an admirable job.  The new Felix Leiter, Jeffrey Wright is Dr. Rutledge, the brilliant physicist responsible for the contraption that can have someone relive the past.  Finally, Vera Farmiga is air Force officer Colleen Goodwin, Colton's contact in the real world.  A sympathetic shoulder for his disorientation.

Ironically, none of the "flashbacks" is ever actually eight minutes, something that would have been cool had the filmmakers been able to go with that sort of structure, but hey, it was a blast.  I really liked this and would recommend it to fans of such films as Inception.  Source Code got overlooked when it was released theatrically, but definitely check it out at home.  8.25/10.

See you tomorrow, and GO WATCH A MOVIE!!