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/

Poster analysis

Unique Selling Point - The director of this film is the same one that directed Moon, so fans of that film are likely to watch this film being by the same director. The film moon is of the science fiction genre too and so people who like this film genre will know that source code is of this genre too and will be more likely to watch it. Another unique selling point are the actors listed; people who are fans of them will also want to watch the film.

Source Code is a written computer code and relates to technology. Technology is a conventional theme of  the Science Fiction film genre and so from the title of the film Source Code the audience will be aware that it is of the Science Fiction film genre.

There is a tag line - Change the past. Save the future, this relates to the narrative of the film as Colter is to change the past, stopping the train bomber in the film from blowing up the train, in order to save the future, which is that all the passengers of the train don't die but live. Also time travel narrative implicated by the words 'Past' and 'Future.' Fans of the science fiction film genre and in particular its subgenre, Time Travel, will be likely to want to watch the film.
 

The certificate 12A is on the poster indicating that the target audience are 12 years old and above.

The film facebook page is at the bottom of the poster. This use of social media means that the audience can like the film's page on Facebook, and interact with film.

 

The squares breaking up around Jack gives the idea that the film is going to include a different dimension, as Jake is appearing to be coming through the wall of blue squares, relating to the Science Fiction genre. This imagery also relates to the film, as in the film Jack's Character Colter would be in one location, when the one screen image has been edited to break up into blue square pixels and then rearrange themselves into the new location in which he has time travelled to.

Synergy - Image breaking up into blue squares linking with the Science - Fiction, CGI in the film when the main character time travels back in time and the location around him breaks up into the squares seen here on the film poster.

There is a billing block on the bottom of the poster and the production company logo - Summit Entertainment.

Textual analysis - Source Code

Source Code directed by Duncan Jones, released in the USA on the 28th March 2011 and UK on the 1st April 2011, is a hybrid of Mystery, Thriller and Science - Fiction.

              

When Colter wakes up (Appears as Equilibrium).   

Disruption - Colter wakes up shocked by his location.

 Recognition - Colter finds he is in another man's body.

 The film starts with, main character, Colter waking up on a train. This appears to be equilibrium, however is the films disruption; Colter doesn't know who the woman, called Christina, sat opposite him is and is confused by his surroundings and the fact that Christina calls him Shaun. Recognition begins when Colter sees his reflection in the bathroom mirror is another man and the wallet in his pocket confirms that he’s in Shaun's body. The train then blows up and a confused Colter finds himself in a capsule, with a screen where Goodwin talks to him.

Repair - Colter finds the bomber and saves everyone  alternate reality he creates with Christina.

New equilibrium - Colter leaves as Shaun in the on the train in an alternate reality.      

Colter is sent back to the train a number of times to find its bomber, however this is with little information. Eventually Colter finds out that he died whilst fighting in Afghanistan and through Source Code is able to relive the last eight minutes of Shaun's life; another character who died on the train and Colter now knows what's happening. This leads into the repair as it's now up to Colter to complete his mission with little time to do so; however ultimately Colter realises that he can also change what happened and does preventing the train blowing up and all of its passengers dying. In the new equilibrium Colter lives on with Christina in the alternate reality he's created and another alternate Colter sleeps in this reality as the team wait to try out the Source code and Colter now lives in Shaun's body.

Binary Oppositions I found were Good vs. Bad, Honesty vs. Deception, Loyalty vs. Betrayal, Knowledge vs. Lack of Knowledge and Authority vs. Obedience. Good vs. Bad is the main binary opposition as it is the foundation of the film. The main character, Colter, is a solider who died in battle and now in source code strives to find out who's responsible for the bombing of the train he finds himself on, in order to prevent them from killing more people, this making him the good character of the film. Then there's the bomber who has killed a whole train of innocent people and wishes to create an even bigger devastation next making him the bad character. This is the central point of the plot as the narrative revolves around Colter trying to find the bomber, making it the main and most important binary opposition of the film.

Honesty vs. Deception links with Loyalty vs. Betrayal as Dr. Rutledge tells Colter that when he's completed his mission his service will be terminated and he'll be allowed to die, however when Colter does complete the mission Dr. Rutledge tells Goodwin to initialize a memory wipe on Colter, so that they can use him again through the source code. Dr Rutledge goes back on his promise to Colter, betraying him and his wishes to make him forget the mission he completed in order to deceive him; when he's to be used again Colter will not know that Dr Rutledge went back on his promise on a previous mission, nor will he know how he saved the people on the train's lives as these memories would have been erased. On the other hand Goodwin is honest and Loyal to Colter as she terminates his life, even when clearly instructed by Dr. Rutledge not to, allowing him to die as he was promised.

Another binary opposition is Knowledge vs. Lack of Knowledge which links with Authority vs. Obedience. Dr. Rutledge and Goodwin have all of the knowledge to begin with in contrast to Colter who has no idea of what is happening or has happened. The knowledge that Dr. Rutledge and Goodwin has gives them authority over Colter, who can only obey them due to his lack of knowledge; for example when Colter first finds he's in the confined space he is confused and doesn't understand why he was on the train and in Shaun's body. Colter asks Goodwin where his crew are and if they know where he is; lacking knowledge of the situation. Goodwin doesn't answer Colter's questions, but instead briefs him on his mission to find the train bomber. Colter has no choice but to obey as he's sent back onto the train to carryout the mission, giving Goodwin the authority. However even when Colter is told by Dr Rutledge that he can't live in the source code over the eight minutes during the film Colter realises that he can and does, creating an alternate reality. So Colter has more knowledge then Dr Rutledge about the source code even though he created.

Source code is in chronological order as it's about Colter carrying out his mission through Source Code. On the other hand there are very brief clips of the past and the future; Colter remembers the war he was fighting in when he was alive. Also when blown up on the train before he wakes up he sees himself with Christina at the dome in Chicago, which they go to at the end of the film. Colter also finds out information about his past, however this is revealed through dialogue and not visually.

The narrative is open, ending with Colter and Christina at the dome as Colter starts his new life as Shaun. Also an alternate Goodwin receives an email sent by Colter and it's revealed that there too is an alternate Colter with an unknown mission ahead of him. The narrative is also restricted as the audience always know as much as Colter knows and so as Colter gradually finds out more about what the source code is, what happened to him and who the train bomber was so does the audience.

      

Technology Goodwin uses to communicate with Colter. 

Technology the active part of Colter's brain is wired to in order for source code to work.

 

The antagonist of the film is Colter. Controversial to most films of all film genres he is dead. However conventional to the science fiction film genre a part of Colter brain is still active and through the source code he is able to live the last eight minutes of another man life. This has been done using advanced technology which is conventional on the science fiction genre. Dr. Rutledge is the creator of the advanced technology, source code, which Goodwin uses most of the time to communicate to Colter even though he's dead.

Source code themes that are conventional of the science fiction genre are Time travel, as Colter has to keep on going back in time in an alternate reality through out the film. There's also ethical issues as Colter is put through a very traumatic mission against his will at first, he's is also emotional black mailed by Dr. Rutledge, who plays him a recording of his father talking about him after his death causing him to continue with the mission and Colter isn't informed that he's dead and has to find this out by himself. Alternate reality is another convention of the genre, as he creates an alternate reality.

I've decided to focus on the extract of the film when Colter has just found out that he's dead and has awoken back in the capsule.  The scene begins with a close up which Colter sits up into. Behind him a screen displaying Goodwin, whom Colter asks if he's dead. Goodwin tries at first to avoid answering the question, however she eventually explains how a part of his brain remains activated. Near the end of the film Colter is seen in a machine which keeps him alive and part of his brain active; the use of advanced technology is convectional of the science fiction film genre.

The capsule becomes larger around Colter.

       Goodwin and Dr. Rutledge are in office with many computers.

A confused Colter asks Goodwin how he can see his hands and feet and Goodwin tells him how they are just a manifestation he has created in order to make sense of the situation. Once Colter realises that the capsule is his own manifestation too there's a close up of his face, followed by a sound effect which precedes the change that is to take place. An extreme close up of the computer monitor in the office shows it flashing a warning of the change taking place. A medium close up of Colter zooms out slowly and arcs around him, gradually revealing the capsule becoming larger around him. A medium two shot shows Goodwin and Dr. Rutledge in the office, which has computers all around it; location relating to the science fiction genre. Dr. Rutledge talks to Colter, who tells him how he called him when on the train. However Dr. Rutledge tells him that even if the call was received it would be by a different him entirely; suggesting that there's an alternate reality, which is of the science fiction film genre.

CGI is used to show Colter being transported from the capsule to the train.

Dr, Rutledge then sends Colter back to the train. CGI is used to make it look as though Colter and the location he's in breaks up into blue square pixels. There's also a sound effect parallel to this as Colter is transported back onto the train. A fast paced montage follows displaying what has happened a multiple of times throughout the film; the audience have already seen what happens on the train and so through this editing it is communicated that it's happening again. Colter then wakes up back in the capsule as before and a sound effect parallel with his return emphasises the pain Colter is being put through on his return, as well as him yelling and moving around as he tries to cope with the pain he's in. Despite this Dr. Rutledge sends a resistant Colter back in and again through CGI the audience see him go back again. The parallel sound effect communicating the painful process again as he yelps and unsuccessfully tries to prevent going back, by grabbing on a lever. An even faster paced montage shows how the same events happen on the train as before and throughout the film.

Source Code contains a Science fiction conventions through its narrative, themes, binary oppositions and micro elements engaging the audience throughout.