Today’s quick review: Twelve Monkeys. Years after a plague ravaged humanity in 1997, prisoner James Cole (Bruce Willis) is sent back in time to gather information on the virus’s origins. Mistaken for a schizophrenic, Cole is arrested and placed in a mental institution, where he befriends Jeffrey Goines (Brad Pitt). Cole’s only hope of completing his mission is to convince his psychiatrist Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe) that his story is true.
Twelve Monkeys is a science fiction thriller from director Terry Gilliam. The movie explores a version of time travel where the past can’t be changed, information is splotchy, and the time traveler must resort to guesswork to piece together the fall of mankind. Twelve Monkeys does an excellent job of capturing the sensation of paranoia and futility. Its particular flavor of sci-fi won’t be for everyone, but its craftsmanship makes it a worthwhile watch.
Twelve Monkeys paints a bleak picture of present and future alike. The future is a madhouse where humanity has been forced underground and an unhinged council of scientists holds the keys to its renewal. The present is hardly better, a place of crime and mental illness that immediately becomes a prison for Cole. The tension is enhanced by skewed camera angles, unreliable information, and a menacing accordion soundtrack.
Beyond the bleakness of its world, Twelve Monkeys has a convoluted plot and capable acting. The events of Cole’s journey are not always tightly knit, but its significant twists and surprising connections are enough to make Twelve Monkeys a worthwhile, cerebral mystery. Brad Pitt delivers a standout performance as Jeffrey Goines, a manic mental patient, while Bruce Willis departs from his usual action hero role to play the beleaguered James Cole.
Fans of the unsettling, psychological side of science fiction will enjoy Twelve Monkeys. Its powerful atmosphere and clever plot make it a solid entry into that branch of the genre. But those hoping for a conventional or optimistic time travel story should look elsewhere. For a sci-fi noir with a similar sense of paranoia, check out Dark City. For a story about mental illness without the sci-fi elements, try One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
8.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for a strong plot and an effective atmosphere; how much you get out of it will depend heavily on your taste.