“Source Code” is an efficiently made Sci-Fi/thriller that mixes action, suspense and an effective story and can be considered when of the more memorable thriller movies of this year. Even though the movies story is essentially “Groundhog Day” with elements of “Inception” and “12 Monkeys” scattered in between but its writer, Ben Ripley, cleverly constructs a storyline that’s feels fresh an original.

As the film opens we see man wake up on a train in a confused and panic state. He questions, how could he be on a train heading for Chicago? The man’s name is Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal), I’m sure he knows that, but he talking to a woman he has never met and she keeps calling him Sean. As he goes to the bathroom and sees a different person in the mirror, (this person is the real Sean). How could this be? Colter knows that this can’t be happening but as soon as the woman (Michelle Monaghan) tries to calm him down, the train explodes. Colter wakes up and finds himself in a room were on a monitor a military woman named Colleen Goodwin (Vera Farmiga) explains that he is inside the Source Code.

The Source Code is program that allows people to take over someone’s body in the last eight minutes of their life. She explains that a train exploded earlier in the day and man named Sean Fentress was on the train and Colter becomes Sean (even though the audience sees the physical appearance of Jake Gyllenhaal)  when he taken back on the Train.  His Mission: Find the bomber who bombed the train because there could be another attack on Chicago. If he can identify the bomber and give them important information so they can find the bomber in the real world. If does not find the bomber in 8 minutes the train will explode and he will be taken back to the real world and he will have to try again.  This is where “Groundhog Day” comes in because Gyllenhaal is the only one who remembers anything but the passengers act like it’s happening for the first time. But you’re probably wondering this: Why can’t he just stop the train from exploding? Well he can but it won’t make a difference because Source Code is just a mere simulation. It’s explained by the creator Dr. Rutledge (Jeffery Wright) that you can’t change the past but you can get information. So it’s up to Jake Gyllenhaal to save the city of Chicago, 8 minutes at a time.

The movie is does actually feature fine performances despite being an action film. Gyllenhall does give human performance that is effective. The strongest performance from the supporting cast is from Jeffry Wright as the inventor of the Source Code. But Monaghan’s and Farmiga’s performances are still good as well. This film is also pretty exciting because along with Gyllenhaal, you’re trying to figure out the bomber as well. It’s also suspenseful; when you know he only has 8 min. and has to try different tactics to find the bomber, it is thrilling.

Surprisingly, this movie is pretty effective in its emotional standpoint. When Gyllenhaal starts to get attached to Monaghan’s character, the film asks the question; what would you do if you only had 8 min. to live? I actually thought the romance story was going to be contrived but it is human because you know it’s only as simulation and they can’t be together. He knows he wants to save her but he can’t.

Even though I did like the film there was a complaint I had about the ending. There may be some spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution. First, it goes through three potential endings and would have been satisfied with either of them but instead it has an ending that’s bland and just not effective. The three false ending had more effect on me then the real one. If the film had ending 5-10 min. earlier I would have praised this film more but unfortunately it ends on a bad note. Not to mention that the real ending is a bit complicated. That doesn’t mean it ruined the whole movie for me because there is enough in the film to enjoy.  The film was directed by Duncan Jones who made the fabulous “Moon” from two years ago. Perhaps he has a knack for science fiction because he has made two good sci-fi movies. Even though the ending may be disappointing there is enough good in “Source Code” that makes it worth seeing.

***|PG-13|93 Minutes