Source Code gets things started right.  The audience is thrown into the shoes of a main character that has no idea what is going on or what he is doing.  We feel confusion, and much like Jake Gyllenhaal's character, we really want some answers of why this is happening.  A lot of modern movies seem to fear throwing the audience into the fire, instead settling for an opening text crawl or narration.  Source Code, much like Inception, hits the ground running and the effect makes the movie far more engaging for it.  You are left hanging on every detail that is given to Gyllenhaal about his mission, about his character, hoping to figure out the puzzle that he is trapped in.  It's clear there is more going on then what you are being told.  Gyllenhaal knows this, and the audience knows this.

I have no intention of ruining any bit of the mystery that is Source Code.  Anyone who has seen the trailer knows the set up.  If you want the set up, go watch the trailer.  While I had various guesses and theories during my experience, I never knew exactly where the film would go or why certain things were happening.  Let me say, the movie does a great job of wrapping up the various loose ends while also leaving the viewer to discuss a lot of things after the credits roll.  Any movie that gets post-film discussion going is worth a watch.  It definitely took a while for all of the audience groups to leave their seats and head for the exits.  However, this is only part of the appeal.

What really raises Source Code above its peers is its human element.  In the midst of all the conspiracy and terrorist plotting, Source Code manages to squeeze in themes of human mortality, forgiveness, and redemption.  I don't know what it is about father and son storylines in films, but they get me every time.  There is a conversation at the end of the film that left me with a bit of a lump in my throat.  But what makes all of this drama so poignant is the fact that the filmmakers seem to care more about it than all of the techno-thriller stuff.  This is a human drama set against a sci-fi backdrop, not the other way around.  The film crew cared very much for these characters and so we the audience do as well.  If we didn't, then all of the twists and turns would mean nothing.

It would seem unfair to not mention that this movie succeeds in large part due to its fantastic cast.  I'm not sure I've enjoyed Jake Gyllenhaal this much since Donnie Darko and Michelle Monaghan excels at being instantly likable.  She carries a certain charm to her throughout the entire movie that really sells her character.  Lastly, I'd like to give props to Michael Arden who plays Derrick Frost.  He manages to infuse the character with the right combination of creepy and pathetic.  For what little screen time he has, he makes it count.

And of course, there is director Duncan Jones who directed the cult classic Moon before this movie.  He is able to use his talent for isolation during the scenes outside of the Source Code, while inside, he takes a much more elegant approach.  He starts the movie on a surprisingly slow burn but by the end, the pace is frantic and disarrayed, but never overbearing.  I will most definitely be looking forward to this man's next movie.

Now with any film that gets this much praise and acclaim (especially one of a sci-fi thriller nature), there is going to be people who think they are very smart and can point out why the movie doesn't make sense.  Don't listen to these people.  They are simply bitter and petty.  Life itself is filled with "plot-holes" that we will never understand while we are here, things that don't always seem to quite add up.  It's part of the mystery of life.  Its best to focus on what we do know, believe, and can do and work from there.  That's what Source Code does.  That's why it is amazing.