Smallville, Source Code, Smallville Alums
*“Smallville” has wrapped forever. It’s over. Dunzo. You won’t have Shelby to ignore and fend for her/himself anymore. The cast held the wrap part in Vancouver (though from what I read KK wrote that there weren’t any speeches, which makes me think they’ll have a finale party in Burbank for the writers and production offices because there’s nothing studios exec love more than speeches . I could be wrong.) and it was attended by SV castmembers and alums.
Erica
Schneider. What’s with these caps??
Connor Stanhope
Who tweeted this pic from the party.
*Reportedly Connor was the last one to depart at 1am.
He posted this bittersweet pic
Justin. Before the party with a fan
But no Steve Byers!
“First I get cut from most of my episodes now I’m not invited to the shindig.”
Know what surprised me?
He’s buddies with dead!Whitney.
Other party attendees were Kristin Kreuk
On the set of “17th Precinct
Cassidy Freeman, Alessandro Juliani, Jessica Parker Kennedy (Plastique) and Thomas Dekker.
::runs out to find a time machine, buy a record player, borrows one of Thomas’ albums because all hipster have vinyl::
::needle scratches across record::
Thomas Dekker?
Yes, His Royal Fierceness was on hand surely because his “Secret Circle” castmate Jessica told him that the bar had cold beers and hot guys.
Thomas is settling in with his new cast mates it seems
While still keeping in touch with his old ones.
With his “mom” Lena Headey
Thomas with a dog.
Obviously that can’t be his dog. I envision his dog looking like this.
*It was announced last week that Mr. Gale Harold has also joined the cast of the pilot playing a father! I hope it’s of a boy so that I can fanwank that Gus grew up and became a warlock.
The synopsis? This series will follow a coven of Salem witches when a new teen girl moves into town and discovers that she is a witch herself.
Gale will play Thomas Meade - the leader of the Salem witch coven that befriends the new girl in town played by Britt Robertson (LifeUnXpected).
Gale’s head injury apparently triggered the mainstream gene in “Hellcats” and now “Secret Circle”? Please, let “One Tree Hill” go off the air before he gets cast on that show.
Again, which each Gale mainstream role, the more I think about the new fans who will discover QAF and I smile. It’s what we shall call Gaying It Forward. Or maybe Galing It Forward?
I have to say I had hoped when I saw this picture of Kevin Williamson and Callum Blue hanging out ..
….that it meant Kevin was trying to find a place for Callum. I don’t want him to appear on “The Vampire Diaries” only to have them kill him off after three episodes, so “Secret Circle” (Williamson is the executive producer of that too) would’ve been perfect for him.
*While the show has wrapped we still have episodes to go including the one I’ve anticipated the most: “Booster”!!!! TV Guide spoke to Geoff Johns about the episode and tariel22 transcribed Eric Martsolf’s (Booster) comments about the episode.
*Eric tweeted a picture of his very cute son with his very first Whoopee cushion.
Maybe it’s time his son got another JLA-er t-shirt
*Cassidy Freeman is the first of the current SV cast to land a new gig. She has joined the A&E pilot “Longmire” starring Katee Sackhoff (“Battlestar Galatctica”) Lou Diamond Phillips and Robert Taylor. The series, based on a series of mystery novels centers on a charismatic, dry-witted Wyoming sheriff (Taylor). Cassidy plays Taylor’s daughter.
Cassidy is going to love working with Katee.
*Rosenbaum is a bonafide writer. Thanks to “Breaking In”, Michael has struck a blind script commitment with FOX. I wonder if he’s going to polish up his “Welcome to Paradise” script and resubmit to FOX.
*John Schneider recently attended a convention where he says he’s developing a series for Nick at Night. The co-executive producer of this series? Cher. How did Bo Duke get to know Cher I’ll never know.
John also had things to say about Tom which is spoilery, so I’m putting it in my handy-dandy spoiler page.
He also said that playing Jonathan Kent was “a crowning achievement to his career”. He then added, "Good luck, Kevin Costner." Who was recently cast as Pa Kent in the latest Superman film.
*In ‘Smallville” alum adjacent news, Danneel Ackles (did you really think she’d let girl!Gen be the only one to change her professional name?) has been cast in another pilot for NBC. Last year her pilot “Friends with Benefits” went to series, filmed eight episodes and have remained unaired and more than likely will never air.
This series is another romantic comedy titled “I Hate That I Love You”. The plot? a straight couple, Brad (Nick Thune) and Missy (Jamie Lee Kirchner), introduce their lesbian roommates, Brad's Allie (Ackles) and Missy's Sarah (Anna Camp), to each other.
And hilarity ensues? Very possibly, no.
*Serinda Swan was recently interviewed by Zap2It and she recounted a Jensen story.
Tell us about one of your most embarrassing moments.
SerindaI was on set of Supernatural (my first speaking roll (sic) on television) and I was ridiculously nervous about it. I had memorized my one line over and over making sure I wouldn't screw up my scene with Jensen Ackles, who since watching him on days of our lives for a few years kinda made me swoon (needless to say this didn't help things much) So as the director yells 'action' and Jensen walks up, instead of "hi, what can I do for you? coming out of my mouth, a stilted "hi...what....um..can I do you? horrifically came out. To which we both just stared at each other not sure what to say until the director yelled 'cut'. By that time I was the color of a tomato, thought my life was about to end, and everyone was howling, telling me that it was going to make the blooper reel...way to go Serinda, way to go.
The full interview
*Another Smallville alum is working. Amy Adams has been cast as Lois Lane in the next Superman film.
As well all know, Amy’s best role by far has been as Jodi Melville in the episode “Craving” the fat sucking meteor freak.
I am still on the fence about the casting of Adams as Lois. I was really hoping for Diane Kruger to be cast because I think she was made for the character. I think Amy’s a great actor, she’s really impressive, but I just have a different vision of how Lois looks and Adams isn’t it.
Interestingly enough, Amy screen tested with Matthew Bomer when he was in the running for Superman.
Says Matty, “She was incredible, man. She's a go-getter, she's got the chutzpah that Lois Lane needs."
Whatever my feelings I hope she does well in the role. I think every generation deserves their Lois Lane. I know I have mine.
Since we didn’t get a domestic life for Clark and Lois in the films, I can fanwank that this is Clark and Lois, married and living it up in Smallville.
Occasionally traveling to Gothem for swank parties
And more in love than when they first met.
As they are in the comics.
For me, Reeve and Kidder’s Clark and Lois chemistry is a tough act to follow.
Not that this is directed at anyone.::whistles casually::
*Erica recently gave an interview with Comic Book Resources here.
*”Man of Steel” director, Zach Snyder said this in a Fox All Access interview bout “Smallville”.
"I'll say one thing. I'll say, thank God for Smallville. Smallville by itself, quietly has kept Superman in consciousness in a way that with out it my kids really would be like, 'Who the hell is Superman? I don't even know who the guy is!' I think that in that way Smallville has done an amazing job of just keeping that icon alive and breathing. He is on life support, but he is there. And I thank them for that."
So thank you, Zach for recognizing SV’s role in the mythos. I’m still debating whether “Sucker Punch” was great or the worst thing committed to film since “Watchmen”.
The fangirl in me does love that Amy was on “Smallville” as was Callum Blue. Callum’s costar in “The Tudors” was Henry Cavill. That’s less than six degrees of separation!
Let’s hope Cavill is a good Supes because to me that role belonged to Brandon Routh.
I understand drowning your sorrows, baby.
I still wonder how Matt would’ve fared. He’s just too weedy for Superman.
But Clark Kent? Hells yeah.
*Matt with “Tron Legacy”s Beau Garrett.
I only posted this pic because I love Kristin Davis’ dress
*Last week or maybe two weeks ago Matthew came just that much closer to being widely out when guest hosting on The Today Show, Hoda Kotb announced that she had just found out that Matt had kids. He talked proudly of his boys Kitt, Walker and Henry. Later, his fans were upset over what they considered intrusive (it would’ve been worse had Kathie Lee Gifford had been there) and someone tweeted “White Collar”s creator Jeff Eastin asking if the network has pressured Matt in keeping his sexuality hidden. Eastin replied never had they done so. I think like Jonathan Knight, Matthew is out just not declared (openly in the media). He goes to event with his ring on, everyone knows that boys are his and Simon Halls. I’m just happy for Matt and his family. He’s a great guy.
And so much damn fun.
*In other superhero news, it was finally that Joseph Gordon Levitt has been cast in “The Dark Knight Rises”
The rumor flowing was that Joe would play Alberto Falcone (son of Carmine Falcone, Tom Wilkinson’s character in “Batman Begins”) aka “The Holiday Killer” from Jeph Loeb’s “The Long Halloween”
But those rumors were shot down, but not put to rest as the information was first seen in a WB press release-and they should know who plays who in their film. People are thinking that Nolan wanted the information refuted to keep more mystery behind the role or maybe WB had bad or old intel.
Here’s hoping to at least one scene with Joe and Tom Hardy (Incidentally, Farley Granger, whose manner was one of the influences on the character of Eames, passed away yesterday.)
Tom’s been a very busy sexy bee. He has the upcoming “Warrior”
..”This Means War” and “Tinker, Tailor Soldier and Spy” in post production and is currently filming the aptly titled for a film starring Tom Hardy, “The Wettest County”.
Someone from the set tweeted this.
Tom can pinch me anytime
“Pinch” is slang for have raunchy hardcore sex with, right?
Oh, and here’s costar Shia LeBouf with some kids.
Tom’s soon-to-be costars have talked about him.
Gary Oldman said, "I worked with Tom on ['Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'], I'm going off to do a couple days with him on ['The Wettest County in the World'] and then we work together on 'Batman,' " Oldman said. "And then we get married - 2011 is the year of Gary and Tom."
And Sir Michael Caine said, “Tom Hardy is one of my favorite British actors. I saw him maybe four years ago in a show on British television, and I was stunned at this guy.” “This is the toughest guy in British movies. He’s obviously playing a tough character because he is,”
That’s a huge compliment coming from this OGGQMF.
~
When I first saw the trailer for “Source Code’ I thought of that UPN series with the lesser cared about LaPaglia, Jonathan called “Seven Days”, which was already a “Quantum Leap” copy, where this guy has to go back a week to correct mishaps so I wasn’t too impressed about the concept. Plus, it stars Jake Gyllenhaal who looks like a Basset Hound and whose personality I only know about through memes.
But I gave it a go because it stars Vera Farmiga and it’s directed by Duncan Jones, who with his big-screen writing and directorial debut “Moon” helped him make a name for himself outside of his dad, David Bowie ( nee Jones) and his own infamous given name (Zowie).
The film written by Ben Ripley (this is his first major script) stars Gyllenhaal as Colter Stevens, a soldier who comes to disoriented on a train. He soon realizes that he’s not in his own body but before he could get to the bottom of it, the train explodes. He awakens in seclusion and through a camera communicates with Goodwin (Vera Farmiga) and Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright) military personnel who tells him that he’s in the midst of a mission: to find the bomber who blew up the train; whose attack is a precursor to a larger terrorist attack. Colter repeatedly goes back trying to stop the inevitable from happening, as well as try to find out where he is, but along the way he changes his mission: to save the lives of those on-board the train, especially Christina (Michelle Monaghan), the friend of the man whose body Colter is occupying.
Within every high concept film there’s a small concept at its core “Star Wars” is simply a Western set in space. For all of the scientific lingo that is spewed by Rutledge in explaining the Source Code which plays into the action (which there is a lot of ) to me the overall message… the heart of the film…was live every moment as if it’s your last. The emotional aspect is as important to the film as the science (something shared with the film and “Moon” and Danny Boyle’s “Sunshine”) There are some very heartbreakingly beautiful scenes in the film. I cried an embarrassing amount little (I wasn’t alone in getting emotional. This huge linebacker looking guy in front of me was wiping his eyes and the studio suit who before the movie began was chitchatting with his cronies about Malta and film edting and texting and being just a typical suit like he was only there out of obligation kept sniffling and taking off his glasses to dry his eyes).
I’ve only recently seen “Moon” so it’s still fresh in my memory and I think Jones was the perfect candidate to helm the film. Gyllenhaal gave him the script and I’m sure Jake had marveled at the execution of “Moon” and the performance Jones was able to pull out of Sam Rockwell in it. This is a great vehicle for Gyllenhaal where he’s the hero, the charmer and emotionally open and vulnerable.
Vera is great as always as Goodwin who begins to second guess what she and Rutledge are putting Colter through. Monaghan plays the sweet, supportive character she played in “Mission Impossible 3” and “Eagle Eye”, but she and Gyllenhaal are very good opposite each other. Jeffrey Wright, tremendous actor, but I didn’t like the character ticks he used in the film. And in a inspired bit of casting, Colter’s dad, who is never seen, only heard is voiced by Scott Bakula
I still get goosebumps when the narrator says “And hoping each time will be the leap home”
While touching, there’s still a lot of action and it manages to not make the leaps too derivative or played out (unlike that terrible film “Vantage Point”). And while the film is wide open for a sequel, I’m torn because I loved the concept and I think Gyllenhaal would be great in his own action franchise, but I think the emotional notes would be discarded.
I was hoping to see Duncan Jones although I wasn’t sure I would recognize him if he shaved his wonky beard. So I didn’t see him (I don’t think). I did, however, see Matthew Gray Gubler who glided past me as I was on the hunt for Jones. I saw Vera and her husband (who is so not cool as Sebastian Roche).
Who someone needs to take off Twitter, stat. Posting pics like this. Who does he think he is, a Senator?
*He also claims he’s trying to convince Jared to get on Twitter.
And Jared wonders how many followers he would get.
Is he saying one or is he demonstrating how he digitally penetrates Jensen?
Anyhooo, back to “Source Code”. I saw Adam Levine who is on the short side..which must be why he’s a prick. He wasn’t being a prick though. Two girls approached him for pictures and he took it with them then high-tailed it out the door lest others flock to him. Julie Bowen (Claire, “Modern Family), her husband and another guy were behind me discussing the plot holes in the film…which when I heard them I thought, “Yeah, what was that about?” But it doesn’t detract from the film at all.
My favorite moment though was some young schmoozing guy who stopped an older guy who was on his way to the bathroom and said, “Congratulations on the film.” They were beside me so I wasn’t looking at them, but when I heard that I turned my head to see if it was Duncan, but it wasn’t. Schmoozy Guy tells the other guy, “Each time I thought it was going to end, it didn’t. It just kept going on. There’s so many endings.” And he wasn’t complaining, he just was filling up space because that’s what these people do. Just empty words. And he shook the guy hand and walked off and the older guy began descending down the steps to the bathroom and turned around at the guy departing looking as if he was trying to figure out if he had just been insulted.
So, I loved “Source Code”. There’s a multiple elements at play, but I think it’s like “Lost” in the respect that you take what you want from the content. If you’re looking at the emotional aspect of it, that’s what you’ll respond to. The sci-fi element, it’s there too even if the science part is a bit shaky.
I
And when Justin sucks me off, he has to use both hands like so
Erica
Schneider. What’s with these caps??
Connor Stanhope
Who tweeted this pic from the party.
*Reportedly Connor was the last one to depart at 1am.
He posted this bittersweet pic
Justin. Before the party with a fan
But no Steve Byers!
“First I get cut from most of my episodes now I’m not invited to the shindig.”
Know what surprised me?
He’s buddies with dead!Whitney.
Other party attendees were Kristin Kreuk
On the set of “17th Precinct
Cassidy Freeman, Alessandro Juliani, Jessica Parker Kennedy (Plastique) and Thomas Dekker.
::runs out to find a time machine, buy a record player, borrows one of Thomas’ albums because all hipster have vinyl::
::needle scratches across record::
Thomas Dekker?
Yes, His Royal Fierceness was on hand surely because his “Secret Circle” castmate Jessica told him that the bar had cold beers and hot guys.
Thomas is settling in with his new cast mates it seems
While still keeping in touch with his old ones.
With his “mom” Lena Headey
Thomas with a dog.
Obviously that can’t be his dog. I envision his dog looking like this.
*It was announced last week that Mr. Gale Harold has also joined the cast of the pilot playing a father! I hope it’s of a boy so that I can fanwank that Gus grew up and became a warlock.
The synopsis? This series will follow a coven of Salem witches when a new teen girl moves into town and discovers that she is a witch herself.
Gale will play Thomas Meade - the leader of the Salem witch coven that befriends the new girl in town played by Britt Robertson (LifeUnXpected).
Gale’s head injury apparently triggered the mainstream gene in “Hellcats” and now “Secret Circle”? Please, let “One Tree Hill” go off the air before he gets cast on that show.
Again, which each Gale mainstream role, the more I think about the new fans who will discover QAF and I smile. It’s what we shall call Gaying It Forward. Or maybe Galing It Forward?
I have to say I had hoped when I saw this picture of Kevin Williamson and Callum Blue hanging out ..
….that it meant Kevin was trying to find a place for Callum. I don’t want him to appear on “The Vampire Diaries” only to have them kill him off after three episodes, so “Secret Circle” (Williamson is the executive producer of that too) would’ve been perfect for him.
*While the show has wrapped we still have episodes to go including the one I’ve anticipated the most: “Booster”!!!! TV Guide spoke to Geoff Johns about the episode and tariel22 transcribed Eric Martsolf’s (Booster) comments about the episode.
*Eric tweeted a picture of his very cute son with his very first Whoopee cushion.
Maybe it’s time his son got another JLA-er t-shirt
*Cassidy Freeman is the first of the current SV cast to land a new gig. She has joined the A&E pilot “Longmire” starring Katee Sackhoff (“Battlestar Galatctica”) Lou Diamond Phillips and Robert Taylor. The series, based on a series of mystery novels centers on a charismatic, dry-witted Wyoming sheriff (Taylor). Cassidy plays Taylor’s daughter.
Cassidy is going to love working with Katee.
*Rosenbaum is a bonafide writer. Thanks to “Breaking In”, Michael has struck a blind script commitment with FOX. I wonder if he’s going to polish up his “Welcome to Paradise” script and resubmit to FOX.
*John Schneider recently attended a convention where he says he’s developing a series for Nick at Night. The co-executive producer of this series? Cher. How did Bo Duke get to know Cher I’ll never know.
John also had things to say about Tom which is spoilery, so I’m putting it in my handy-dandy spoiler page.
He also said that playing Jonathan Kent was “a crowning achievement to his career”. He then added, "Good luck, Kevin Costner." Who was recently cast as Pa Kent in the latest Superman film.
*In ‘Smallville” alum adjacent news, Danneel Ackles (did you really think she’d let girl!Gen be the only one to change her professional name?) has been cast in another pilot for NBC. Last year her pilot “Friends with Benefits” went to series, filmed eight episodes and have remained unaired and more than likely will never air.
This series is another romantic comedy titled “I Hate That I Love You”. The plot? a straight couple, Brad (Nick Thune) and Missy (Jamie Lee Kirchner), introduce their lesbian roommates, Brad's Allie (Ackles) and Missy's Sarah (Anna Camp), to each other.
And hilarity ensues? Very possibly, no.
*Serinda Swan was recently interviewed by Zap2It and she recounted a Jensen story.
Tell us about one of your most embarrassing moments.
SerindaI was on set of Supernatural (my first speaking roll (sic) on television) and I was ridiculously nervous about it. I had memorized my one line over and over making sure I wouldn't screw up my scene with Jensen Ackles, who since watching him on days of our lives for a few years kinda made me swoon (needless to say this didn't help things much) So as the director yells 'action' and Jensen walks up, instead of "hi, what can I do for you? coming out of my mouth, a stilted "hi...what....um..can I do you? horrifically came out. To which we both just stared at each other not sure what to say until the director yelled 'cut'. By that time I was the color of a tomato, thought my life was about to end, and everyone was howling, telling me that it was going to make the blooper reel...way to go Serinda, way to go.
The full interview
*Another Smallville alum is working. Amy Adams has been cast as Lois Lane in the next Superman film.
As well all know, Amy’s best role by far has been as Jodi Melville in the episode “Craving” the fat sucking meteor freak.
I am still on the fence about the casting of Adams as Lois. I was really hoping for Diane Kruger to be cast because I think she was made for the character. I think Amy’s a great actor, she’s really impressive, but I just have a different vision of how Lois looks and Adams isn’t it.
Interestingly enough, Amy screen tested with Matthew Bomer when he was in the running for Superman.
Says Matty, “She was incredible, man. She's a go-getter, she's got the chutzpah that Lois Lane needs."
Whatever my feelings I hope she does well in the role. I think every generation deserves their Lois Lane. I know I have mine.
Since we didn’t get a domestic life for Clark and Lois in the films, I can fanwank that this is Clark and Lois, married and living it up in Smallville.
Occasionally traveling to Gothem for swank parties
And more in love than when they first met.
As they are in the comics.
For me, Reeve and Kidder’s Clark and Lois chemistry is a tough act to follow.
Not that this is directed at anyone.::whistles casually::
*Erica recently gave an interview with Comic Book Resources here.
*”Man of Steel” director, Zach Snyder said this in a Fox All Access interview bout “Smallville”.
"I'll say one thing. I'll say, thank God for Smallville. Smallville by itself, quietly has kept Superman in consciousness in a way that with out it my kids really would be like, 'Who the hell is Superman? I don't even know who the guy is!' I think that in that way Smallville has done an amazing job of just keeping that icon alive and breathing. He is on life support, but he is there. And I thank them for that."
So thank you, Zach for recognizing SV’s role in the mythos. I’m still debating whether “Sucker Punch” was great or the worst thing committed to film since “Watchmen”.
The fangirl in me does love that Amy was on “Smallville” as was Callum Blue. Callum’s costar in “The Tudors” was Henry Cavill. That’s less than six degrees of separation!
Let’s hope Cavill is a good Supes because to me that role belonged to Brandon Routh.
I understand drowning your sorrows, baby.
I still wonder how Matt would’ve fared. He’s just too weedy for Superman.
But Clark Kent? Hells yeah.
*Matt with “Tron Legacy”s Beau Garrett.
I only posted this pic because I love Kristin Davis’ dress
*Last week or maybe two weeks ago Matthew came just that much closer to being widely out when guest hosting on The Today Show, Hoda Kotb announced that she had just found out that Matt had kids. He talked proudly of his boys Kitt, Walker and Henry. Later, his fans were upset over what they considered intrusive (it would’ve been worse had Kathie Lee Gifford had been there) and someone tweeted “White Collar”s creator Jeff Eastin asking if the network has pressured Matt in keeping his sexuality hidden. Eastin replied never had they done so. I think like Jonathan Knight, Matthew is out just not declared (openly in the media). He goes to event with his ring on, everyone knows that boys are his and Simon Halls. I’m just happy for Matt and his family. He’s a great guy.
And so much damn fun.
*In other superhero news, it was finally that Joseph Gordon Levitt has been cast in “The Dark Knight Rises”
The rumor flowing was that Joe would play Alberto Falcone (son of Carmine Falcone, Tom Wilkinson’s character in “Batman Begins”) aka “The Holiday Killer” from Jeph Loeb’s “The Long Halloween”
But those rumors were shot down, but not put to rest as the information was first seen in a WB press release-and they should know who plays who in their film. People are thinking that Nolan wanted the information refuted to keep more mystery behind the role or maybe WB had bad or old intel.
Here’s hoping to at least one scene with Joe and Tom Hardy (Incidentally, Farley Granger, whose manner was one of the influences on the character of Eames, passed away yesterday.)
Tom’s been a very busy sexy bee. He has the upcoming “Warrior”
..”This Means War” and “Tinker, Tailor Soldier and Spy” in post production and is currently filming the aptly titled for a film starring Tom Hardy, “The Wettest County”.
Someone from the set tweeted this.
Tom can pinch me anytime
“Pinch” is slang for have raunchy hardcore sex with, right?
Oh, and here’s costar Shia LeBouf with some kids.
Tom’s soon-to-be costars have talked about him.
Gary Oldman said, "I worked with Tom on ['Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'], I'm going off to do a couple days with him on ['The Wettest County in the World'] and then we work together on 'Batman,' " Oldman said. "And then we get married - 2011 is the year of Gary and Tom."
And Sir Michael Caine said, “Tom Hardy is one of my favorite British actors. I saw him maybe four years ago in a show on British television, and I was stunned at this guy.” “This is the toughest guy in British movies. He’s obviously playing a tough character because he is,”
That’s a huge compliment coming from this OGGQMF.
~
When I first saw the trailer for “Source Code’ I thought of that UPN series with the lesser cared about LaPaglia, Jonathan called “Seven Days”, which was already a “Quantum Leap” copy, where this guy has to go back a week to correct mishaps so I wasn’t too impressed about the concept. Plus, it stars Jake Gyllenhaal who looks like a Basset Hound and whose personality I only know about through memes.
But I gave it a go because it stars Vera Farmiga and it’s directed by Duncan Jones, who with his big-screen writing and directorial debut “Moon” helped him make a name for himself outside of his dad, David Bowie ( nee Jones) and his own infamous given name (Zowie).
The film written by Ben Ripley (this is his first major script) stars Gyllenhaal as Colter Stevens, a soldier who comes to disoriented on a train. He soon realizes that he’s not in his own body but before he could get to the bottom of it, the train explodes. He awakens in seclusion and through a camera communicates with Goodwin (Vera Farmiga) and Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright) military personnel who tells him that he’s in the midst of a mission: to find the bomber who blew up the train; whose attack is a precursor to a larger terrorist attack. Colter repeatedly goes back trying to stop the inevitable from happening, as well as try to find out where he is, but along the way he changes his mission: to save the lives of those on-board the train, especially Christina (Michelle Monaghan), the friend of the man whose body Colter is occupying.
Within every high concept film there’s a small concept at its core “Star Wars” is simply a Western set in space. For all of the scientific lingo that is spewed by Rutledge in explaining the Source Code which plays into the action (which there is a lot of ) to me the overall message… the heart of the film…was live every moment as if it’s your last. The emotional aspect is as important to the film as the science (something shared with the film and “Moon” and Danny Boyle’s “Sunshine”) There are some very heartbreakingly beautiful scenes in the film. I cried an embarrassing amount little (I wasn’t alone in getting emotional. This huge linebacker looking guy in front of me was wiping his eyes and the studio suit who before the movie began was chitchatting with his cronies about Malta and film edting and texting and being just a typical suit like he was only there out of obligation kept sniffling and taking off his glasses to dry his eyes).
I’ve only recently seen “Moon” so it’s still fresh in my memory and I think Jones was the perfect candidate to helm the film. Gyllenhaal gave him the script and I’m sure Jake had marveled at the execution of “Moon” and the performance Jones was able to pull out of Sam Rockwell in it. This is a great vehicle for Gyllenhaal where he’s the hero, the charmer and emotionally open and vulnerable.
Vera is great as always as Goodwin who begins to second guess what she and Rutledge are putting Colter through. Monaghan plays the sweet, supportive character she played in “Mission Impossible 3” and “Eagle Eye”, but she and Gyllenhaal are very good opposite each other. Jeffrey Wright, tremendous actor, but I didn’t like the character ticks he used in the film. And in a inspired bit of casting, Colter’s dad, who is never seen, only heard is voiced by Scott Bakula
I still get goosebumps when the narrator says “And hoping each time will be the leap home”
Click to viewWhile touching, there’s still a lot of action and it manages to not make the leaps too derivative or played out (unlike that terrible film “Vantage Point”). And while the film is wide open for a sequel, I’m torn because I loved the concept and I think Gyllenhaal would be great in his own action franchise, but I think the emotional notes would be discarded.
I was hoping to see Duncan Jones although I wasn’t sure I would recognize him if he shaved his wonky beard. So I didn’t see him (I don’t think). I did, however, see Matthew Gray Gubler who glided past me as I was on the hunt for Jones. I saw Vera and her husband (who is so not cool as Sebastian Roche).
Who someone needs to take off Twitter, stat. Posting pics like this. Who does he think he is, a Senator?
*He also claims he’s trying to convince Jared to get on Twitter.
And Jared wonders how many followers he would get.
Is he saying one or is he demonstrating how he digitally penetrates Jensen?
Anyhooo, back to “Source Code”. I saw Adam Levine who is on the short side..which must be why he’s a prick. He wasn’t being a prick though. Two girls approached him for pictures and he took it with them then high-tailed it out the door lest others flock to him. Julie Bowen (Claire, “Modern Family), her husband and another guy were behind me discussing the plot holes in the film…which when I heard them I thought, “Yeah, what was that about?” But it doesn’t detract from the film at all.
My favorite moment though was some young schmoozing guy who stopped an older guy who was on his way to the bathroom and said, “Congratulations on the film.” They were beside me so I wasn’t looking at them, but when I heard that I turned my head to see if it was Duncan, but it wasn’t. Schmoozy Guy tells the other guy, “Each time I thought it was going to end, it didn’t. It just kept going on. There’s so many endings.” And he wasn’t complaining, he just was filling up space because that’s what these people do. Just empty words. And he shook the guy hand and walked off and the older guy began descending down the steps to the bathroom and turned around at the guy departing looking as if he was trying to figure out if he had just been insulted.
So, I loved “Source Code”. There’s a multiple elements at play, but I think it’s like “Lost” in the respect that you take what you want from the content. If you’re looking at the emotional aspect of it, that’s what you’ll respond to. The sci-fi element, it’s there too even if the science part is a bit shaky.
I
And when Justin sucks me off, he has to use both hands like so
