Empire Review Annotation of Source Code

By Kim Newman

'Groundhog Day. With explosions'- Empire have opened with a brief round up of their opinion of this film so the audience will have an idea of the content of this review. Relating Source Code to another film with a similar plot; readers who have seen this film will be likely to relate to this and have their own opinion of this.

Rating -This film has been awarded four stars on the webpage it's displayed that this means it's excellent.

 Plot -  Brief summary of the films plot, reminding the audience of what the film is about.

Photograph - A screen shot from the film has been placed in the review  as the fire is about to engulf the train.

Review:

Paragraph one - The Science - Fiction genre of the film is discussed, as it is implied that big studios don't actually make science - fiction film, but actually recreate other film genres with their conventional narratives and themes and then add a twist to make it seem as though of the science - fiction film genre, such as robots or advanced technology. There's reference to directors Ridley Scott, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas who have all made their own science - fiction films as directors who are unintrested in the genre. James Cameron is also mentioned, director of Avatar wit his of the Science Fiction film genre also.  Science Fiction film fans will be able to understand and relate well to this.

Paragraphy Two - The director of the film Ducan Jones is prasied for his representations of the science - fiction film genre, he's previous film 'Moon' which is also of the science - fiction film genre is mentioned. Jones is prasied for creating films that are distincly of the sciene - fiction film genre alone. The script writer Ben Ripley is also mentioned ans he's previous science - fiction works. Some insight is given into very important member of the crew, as they are the foundation of the film idea and production.

Paragraph Three- The films construction is prasied for its variation of a repetive sequence. Informal language is used, for example 'time-hopper' refering to Colter as he repeatively goes back eight minutes through out the film.

Paragraph Four-  The response that Source code envolkes from the audience is looks at in this paragraph. It is also discussed how the actresses of the film help to portray their characters giving them depth; Farmiga being under orders but still having her opinions and emothiona to battle with and Monaghan coming across as a character who's every easy for Colter or anyone in his postion to fall in love with.

Paragraphy Five- The focus has now turned to the most important member of the cast Jake Gyllenhaal who plays the main character of the film. There is reference a previous film of his 'Donnie Darko' which too is of the sceince - fiction film genre; fans of this film genre will be like to know and have seen the film 'Donie Darko'. Gyllenhaal recieves praise for his performance in the film as the review goes on to look at the importance of his role in the films narrative. His previous film, Prince of Persia. is mentioned too.

Paragraph Six - Selected elements of the film are briefy focused on in the last paragraph and previous statments reinforced, for example the female actresses giving their characters the depth to give the film heart, emotion.

The Verdict - Source code recieves praised and the review is concluded.

Empire Magazine review of Source Code: http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=137124

The Village Voice Source Code Review Analysis

 

By Aaron Hills

'Going in Search of Tossed Time in Source Code' – The title gives the reader an idea of Source code’s genre Science-fiction and more specifically Time-travel.

Paragraph one - There's reference to Moon, a previous film of Source Code director Duncan Jones. Readers who have seen the film Moon are informed that the director of that film is the same director of Source Code. Philip K. Dick is then referred to and 'The Adjustment Bureau' a film created based on Philip K. Dick's short novel 'Adjustment Team'. Readers who have read Philip K. Dick's works or seen the film will be able to relate to and understand what is meant by 'Philip K. Dick-like', as they will already know his style of work or have an idea of it and so will also be able to have an opinion as of whether Aaron Hills stating that Source Code is like Philip's style of work is true or not. The term 'high-concept' is used, this is appropriate for readers who have some knowledge of film the industry and not just film as entertainment.

Paragraph two - Begins with a summary of the plot of the film; mentioning actors who played key characters in the film also. This reminds the reader of what happened in the film and informs them of who the actors are. The word “Hitchcockian,” is stated in this paragraph; people who have in depth film knowledge will be familiar with this word and it’s relation to Hitchcock and his creation of suspense in films. These people are of a niche audience and so the review is aimed at a niece audience.

Paragraph three - The screenwriter of Source Code is mentioned, Ben Ripley; those who know of his works will be able to link similarities in Source Code to his previous works and would probably have already known that he was the screenwriter for Source Code; this making the review more suitable for a niche audience, who are interested in film. There is reference to the two films 'Groundhog Day' and '12 Monkeys', which both have similar plots to that of Source Code. Readers who have seen these films will be able to have an opinion on this statement as of whether they agree or not. Hills has picked up on the intertextuality of Source code’s Narrative and that of the films Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993) and 12 Monkeys (Terry Gilliam, 1995).

The language in this film review is informal, as it has been written as though directed at the reader in a friendly manner, for example “…so let’s try suspending our disbelief…” this is in 1^st person and so is more personal to the reviewer as well relating to the reader, as it comes across as though they are speaking to the reader, instead of the reader reading some text.

There is a small screenshot from the film and caption, “Train in vain: Gyllenhaal boards the unknown.” A clever and quick explanation of the screenshot, as the words “Train” and “vain” rhyme and it’s made clear that the actor Jake Gyllenhaal’s character in on a train he knows nothing about. Details come under this, informing the reader who the director is, the production company of the film and the film’s release date.

Paragraph four – Hills concludes the Source Code film review stating that there is a hidden part of the film’s narrative; Gyllenhaal shows compassion to the other train passengers. The reviewer then goes on to state that he “channels his inner Bill Murray,” the actor who played the main character in the film Groundhog Day and again referencing the intertextuality of the film in Source Code.

The Village voice review of the film Source Code: http://www.villagevoice.com/2011-03-30/film/going-in-search-of-tossed-time-in-source-code/