A chimp champ
Followers of Terry Gilliam's work will know better than to expect something linear. But 12 Monkeys is surprisingly compact.
Each film from the former Monty Python cartoonist presents astounding visual images, among other things; 12 Monkeys is no different. The movie contains many beautiful sequences, but none stands out more than Bruce Willis, foraging amidst the 21st century ruins of Philadelphia, looking up to see a lion poised magnificently against the grey post-apocalyptic skyline; when the image is later repeated and enhanced, with giraffes careening across a freeway, the effect is exquisite.
In the past, Gilliam has had trouble merging such vision with a story which stayed on track. But 12 Monkeys has more to offer in terms of plot, while still remaining true to Gilliam's artistic sensibilities and anarchic, bleak tendencies. It is very similar to his earlier work, Brazil, in terms of overall look.
It is 2035 and 99 per cent of the world's population has been wiped out by a virus unleashed in 1996 by a mysterious pseudo-terrorist group called The Army of the 12 Monkeys. The surface of the planet is uninhabitable, and mankind lives underground, dependent on time travel to unravel this apocalyptic nightmare.
But time travel is in its infancy, and 'volunteers' are selected from the ranks of prisoners hoping to earn a better future. Willis, as Cole, is selected to go back to 1996. However, on his first trip the time travel machine misfires and he ends up in a lunatic asylum under the supervision of Dr Kathryn Reilly (Madeline Stowe), who at first disbelieves his rantings, but eventually becomes a convert.
He also meets the raving Jeffrey Goines (Brad Pitt), a fellow inmate and son of a pioneering viral scientist (Christopher Plummer) who may have more to do with the Army of the 12 Monkeys than initially seems possible.
When Cole is sent back one more time, the clues begin to lock together and all the principals are joined in a race against time to stop the time-bomb virus from being dropped.
For Gilliam, this is almost traditional plotting, and it is visually enacted in a stark, exciting way. Cinematographer Roger Pratt worked with the director on Brazil and also supervised Batman, so it's no surprise that 12 Monkeys is dark and brooding. This movie is also well-paced, helped along by some fine acting from Pitt and Willis in particular. 12 Monkeys; UA, Panasia circuits
