Source Code (7/26/2011)

Rated PG-13 for some violence including disturbing images, and for language.

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright, Russell Peters and James A. Woods

Directed by Duncan Jones (Source Code and Moon)

What would you do if you knew you only had one minute to live?

That’s the question on Colter Stevens’ (Jake Gyllenhaal) mind. He’s an American Army helicopter pilot whose last memory is flying in Afghanistan, but he wakes up on a commuter train. That’s when he discovers he has assumed the identity of another man. Eight minutes later the train explodes and Stevens finds himself in some kind of chamber to a female officer named Goodwin. She tells him he has to go back and find the bomber in order to prevent a second attack. So he’s sent back and going through the whole series of events again and again and again. Will Stevens find the bomber and save downtown Chicago? Will he save the people on the train? Or better yet… can he?

TODD’S WORD: This movie is Groundhog Day meets Die Hard. I love both of those movies and I loved this one too.

JONATHAN’S WORD: I loved both those films too. The Source Code was definitely intriguing to me, just not as noteworthy as either of those films. Worth seeing—I just don’t know if I’d rave about it.

TODD’S WORD: Let’s jump right in with what the film does right. It is fast paced and very entertaining. As the movie begins you’re really not sure what’s happening, but the plot unfolds slowly and deliberately. Truth be told I wish I hadn’t seen a single preview for this movie… the less you know going in the better off you are.

JONATHAN’S WORD: I agree. Previews stink! Especially those previews that are like three minutes long and basically summarize the entire film. I often will watch about 15 seconds of a preview… then skip forward. The less I know, the better.

TODD’S WORD: Besides giving away too much information, the trailers also made it look more like an action movie than the edge-of-your-seat thriller. But as it turns out, it was the latter—and I liked it better this way. Although there are some pretty cool special effects, this is definitely more about the story than the effects.

JONATHAN’S WORD: I agree. The film didn’t rely on explosions and gunfights.

TODD’S WORD: Another thing done right was the casting. Jake Gyllenhaal has not given us a bad performance in over six years and keeps his streak alive here.

JONATHAN’S WORD: I guess you “just can’t quit him,” eh?

TODD’S WORD: I’m not even going to address that.

He’s believable, likeable and just plain perfect as Colter Stevens. Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga and Jeffrey Wright provide great supporting roles as well.

My only real criticism is that it was a little too easy to figure out. I think we all like to figure out the twist ending before other people in the theater. I mean we all have at least one friend who swears they knew Bruce Willis was a ghost the whole time… and we still know they are lying.

JONATHAN’S WORD: That’s hilarious. I know that guy!

TODD’S WORD: But when the plot twist or who-done-its are too easy… it definitely takes away from our enjoyment. That being said, I actually picked up one very important clue the “first time around” and another on Colter’s second trip. And no I’m not lying.

JONATHAN’S WORD: I agree completely. I didn’t think this was a super intelligent film. But it is worth the rent.

TODD’S WORD: Even though the plot twists were a little too easy to figure out, the story was unique enough to keep me entertained… and I loved the “cameo” by Scott Bakula. (Remember him from Quantum Leap?) I’m giving it a Theater Worthy.

JONATHAN’S WORD: Hmmmm. It sounds like you enjoyed it about the same as me. I think you really mean this is a RENTAL.

TODD’S WORD: Nope. THEATRE WORTHY.

JONATHAN’S WORD: No, really. You mean RENTAL.

TODD’S WORD: Why are you waving your hand like a Jedi when you say that?

JONATHAN’S WORD: This isn’t the film you’re looking for. Move along!

TODD’S WORD: Sigh.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
This is actually a PG-13 movie you can let 13 year-olds watch. The exploding scenes can be a little intense, but there are no body parts flying or blood splattering everywhere.

Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):

Q: What’s the message/theme of this movie?
A: In a pretty intense scene, Colter Stevens asks Christina, “What would you do if you knew you only had one minute to live?” Christian responds by saying, “I’d make those seconds count.”

That is a great take away from this movies and an even better conversation starter.

Don’t be afraid to ask your child/student that question.

Q: How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
A: I think as serious Christ followers, we should ask ourselves (and our children/students) that question all the time. Martin Luther was once asked, “What if you knew Jesus was going to return tomorrow?” Luther replied, “I would plant a tree today.” Seems like a strange response. I try to imagine the look on the person’s face that asked him this thought provoking question. But I’ve heard it said he simply explained, “Because, that’s what I had planned to do today.”

That’s a very powerful truth. If we would be doing something different because we knew we only had 24 hours to live… maybe we should be doing those things.

Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
A: In the movie Colton calls his dad and tells him how much his son (because he’s really Sean) loves him. Are there things we have been “putting off until tomorrow”? Have we told the people in our lives how much we love them? Have we forgiven those who have hurt us? Have we shared God’s love with our friends?

In Luke 12, Jesus told the following story:

16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

What do you think about this man’s view of life? (He lived like he had many more years of life.)

Later in the chapter Jesus told his disciples:

35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.

39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

Maybe instead of asking, “What would we do if we only had 24 hours?” Maybe we should ask, “Are we ready?”

Let’s live like today is our last day… let’s live like we are ready!