Source Code (2011)

An army Captain (Jake Gyllenhaal) awakens on a commuter train headed into Chicago with no memory of how he got there. But when a bomb goes off and destroys the train, killing all passengers, he finds himself returned to a secret government Air Force facility where he is told he must go back and continue to go back (in 8 minute increments) to the moment of impact until he can discover both the bomb and the identity of the bomber. Directed by Duncan Jones (MOON), this is a first rate sci-fi action/thriller that is able to sustain the constant return to the scene of the crime (GROUNDHOG DAY it's not) without dissipating the tension. Gyllenhaal's character has more layers (and heart) than your typical action hero which allows for more inner conflict. Oh sure, it's a big CGI laden action thriller but it doesn't insult our intelligence and doesn't depend on loud and noisy explosions every ten minutes to hold our interest. Anyway, I had a great time at it and if the ending is a bit more sentimental than it should be, I can live with it. The suitably intense score is by Chris Bacon. With Vera Farmiga (UP IN THE AIR) who brings more to an underwritten part than most, Michele Monaghan and Jeffrey Wright.