Film & TV on DVD - John Doe Film News & Reviews

Greetings Film Fiends and welcome to John Doe's Film Blog. 30 years of dedicated celluloid obsession has meant that I have seen a few films. Drawing attention to some of the lesser discussed gems that I love. Cult classics, obscure curios and quality genre pictures. This blogs purpose is to translate some of my passion for these films and with luck, inspire you the reader to go check em out.

Science Fiction Trailer of the Moment - Film & TV on DVD

Source Code - John Doe's Trailer of the Moment

source code, Jake Gyllenhaal, duncan jones, vera farmiga, science fiction, thriller, trailer

Vera Farmiga calls the shots to Jake Gyllenhaal in Source Code.

Duncan Jones Directs Jake Gyllenhaal on set,

Writer/Director Duncan ~~Bowie~~ Jones immediately proved that it was talent, not nepotism that got his feature film debut Moon into production. Moon was a low budget, psychological, fishbowl science fiction thriller that thrived on intellectual identity confusion and caused a major stir amongst cinephiles the world over. (JD really must review it in the near future.)

With expectations high, the first trailer for Jones’s follow up film, Source Code was uploaded last week. Remaining in the sci-fi genre the synopsis from the official site reads:

“When decorated soldier Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes up in the body of an unknown man, he discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train. In an assignment unlike any he's ever known, he learns he's part of a government experiment called the "Source Code," a program that enables him to cross over into another man's identity in the last 8 minutes of his life. With a second much larger target threatening to kill millions in downtown Chicago, Colter re-lives the incident over and over again, gathering clues each time, until he can solve the mystery of who is behind the bombs and prevent the next attack.”

source code, Jake Gyllenhaal, michelle monaghan, duncan jones, vera farmiga, science fiction, thriller, trailer

Michelle Monaghan and Jake may have chemistry.

From the footage and what we know of the story this seems to be going the way of Groundhog Day as if it were penned by Phillip K Dick, not that the legendary author has anything to do with it. The original screenplay is written by unproven Ben Ripley, whose credentials list the straight to DVD sequel Species III as his main contribution to the arts.

Donnie Darko walks onto a train...insert punchline

JJake Gyllenhaal will always be Donnie Darko in Johnny Doe’s eyes and many others. Prince of Persia aside films like Jarhead and Zodiac proved that Darko was no fluke. From the clip he seems an ideal match for the part of the disturbed and determined Colter Stevens.

Jeffrey Wright seems to effortlessly fit the mold of any part he selects. From Basquait to Felix Lighter, that he is not a household name seems like a glitch in the command line. It’s always a draw seeing his name in the credits.

Tell me your life story in 7 minutes and 59 seconds!

The casting of Michelle Monaghan also goes a long way to invoking excitement from the Doe. Her appearance in Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang made her an instant attraction and she was exceptional in Gone Baby Gone. Hopefully she will have more to do than just be programmed as the damsel in distress. Vera Farmiga’s (The Departed, Up In The Air) software too, is worthy of installing.

Currently in post production the music is to be done by Darren Aronofsky regular Clint Mansell who also scored Moon. The film was shot by cinematographer Don Burgess (Spiderman, Terminator III) and edited by the legendary Paul Hirsch (Star Wars; A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back).

Though this trailer didn't exactly dazzle John Doe, the intriguing premise promises much and in the hands of Jones could indeed end up being a mind bending spectacle worthy of praise.

Scheduled for U.S. release April 15th 2010 no Australian date is available yet.

Watch the trailer for Source Code.