The Freak's Rating: B+ : The largest travesty at this year's Academy Awards was the lack of recognition given to Inception, most notably the ommission of a Best Director win for Christopher Nolan. Those requiring any further proof of the strength of the film need not look further than each and every action thriller to be released in the first half of 2011. Studio heads took notice of Inception and accelerated release dates for anything that came close. Audiences seem to want something smarter from Hollywood, so the studios are trying their best to satisfy that craving before it goes away.
Sporting an extremely talented director, cinematographer and editor, Source Code zips along (the mere 97 minute running time certainly helps) and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The performances are solid, the pacing is top notch and the direction keeps you mesmerized with imagery. The only glaring flaw here is the writing. Source Code veers completely off track in the final 10 minutes, providing an ending that is far too ambiguous for most tastes. I'd have suggested a hair more guidance in the final act to make sense to most people. Still, I spent a good few days afterwards thinking about it and the film is very entertaining, enough to merit a solid recommendation.
So far this year, The Adjustment Bureau and Source Code have proven via critical and audience reviews that mindless entertainment can be popular, but a thoughtful script and a film that can keep audiences guessing afterwards can make for a far more rewarding experience at the theater. Here is hoping that Hollywood continues giving us what we want.
