What really happened?

Rating: 7/10 (1 May 2010)

"12 Monkeys" is a film that needs to be watched with the viewer's full attention! The movie is about a man, James Cole played by Bruce Willis, who is serving a prison sentence. He is picked as a "volunteer" to go back in time to try and find the virus that wiped the majority of humanity leaving the rest of the humans to live underground. With him doing this he could earn a pardon to get out of prison before his sentence is up. Because of this incentive James is focused on getting the job done, however after several of the events that occur James realizes he needs to discover himself.
During James Cole's venture back in time he realizes he was sent to the wrong year. This causes much chaos and lands him in a mental institution where he meets Kathryn Railly played by Madeleine Stowe and Jeffrey Goines played by Brad Pitt. Kathryn is a psychiatrist who later becomes James's kidnapped victim and friend. Jeffrey is quite a mental case as well as a son of a famous scientist.
This film can seem to be all over the place with James Cole constantly time traveling, getting into fights, running from the law, and trying to discover himself. With all this going on it is very important to watch this film without distraction or you may get confused. Actually I was a little confused with some scenes even with my full attention on the film. When watching you begin to think you know exactly what is going on then you start to question yourself just as the character James Cole does.
This film is a great mind playing film. Just as we know what is going to happen another event takes place that makes you question what is really going on. I compare this film with the film "The Sixth Sense". The directors of both films do a great job in having the viewers keep questioning what is really going on.
"12 Monkeys" is great in terms of acting. I believe Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt did a great job in portraying the reality of their characters. Overall I thought this film had a great plot, however I wish the ending would have been more. I still, after finishing the movie, am questioning what really happened.