Twelve Monkeys

Rating: 6/10 (15 September 2005)

I saw this film at least once, I obviously didn't pay the fullest attention, and I certainly didn't remember anything, so I'm glad I made a real effort to watch it again and get a better opinion, directed by Terry Gilliam (Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Brazil, The Fisher King). Basically in 1996 humanity is almost wiped out by a deadly virus, remaining survivors are forced to live underground, a mysterious group called the Army of the Twelve Monkeys are believed to have something to do with the virus. In 2035, in a subterranean shelter beneath the ruins of Philadelphia, prisoner James Cole (Bruce Willis) is selected for a mission, to be trained and sent back in time, he cannot change the future, but he can collect information for the scientists to help them find a cure. Cole meanwhile is haunted to recurring dreams of his childhood, involving a foot chase and a shooting in an airport. Cole arrives in Baltimore in the year 1990, not 1996, he ends up arrested and hospitalised in a mental institution, following an assessment by psychiatrist Dr. Kathryn Railly (Stowe), there he encounters fellow mental patient Jeffrey Goines (Golden Globe winning, and Oscar nominated Brad Pitt) with fanatical views. Cole attempts an escape, he is caught and locked in a cell, but disappears, returning to the future, back in his own time Cole is interviewed by the scientists, they play a distorted voicemail message, which references the location of the Army of the Twelve Monkeys and their association with the virus. Cole is also shown photographs of suspects who may be involved, he recognises Goines, he is given a second chance to go back in time, but another error sends him to a World War I battlefield, he is shot in the leg, but is then suddenly sent to 1996 as planned. In 1996, Railly is lecturing about the Cassandra complex to scientists, in the following book signing Dr. Peters (Morse) questions her about humanity's future and the lunacy of the gradual destruction of the environment. Cole arrives having seen flyers for the event, he kidnaps Railly and forces her to take him to Philadelphia, they learn that Goines is the founder of the Army of the Twelve Monkeys. They set out to find him, when they confront him however Goines denies any involvement with the virus, and says to Cole that it was his idea in 1990 whilst in the asylum to wipe out humanity. Cole convinces himself that he is insane, but Railly has evidence that proves his time travel did in fact occur, they decide that with the oncoming plague to spend their remaining time in the Florida Keys, on their way to the airport they learn that the Army of the Twelve Monkeys were not the source of the epidemic, they protested for the release of animals from the zoo. Cole leaves a message for the scientists at the airport, telling them that following the Army of the Twelve Monkeys is pointless, and he will not be returning, an acquaintance from his own time, Jose (Jon Seda), confronts Cole and gives him a handgun and instructs him to follow orders. At the same time, Railly spots Dr. Peters, she recognises him from a newspaper as an assistant at the virology lab of Dr. Goines (Christopher Plummer), Jeffrey's father, he is due to be touring several cities that match the locations and sequence of the virus outbreak. Cole forces his way through a security checkpoint in pursuit of Peters, police fatally shoot Cole when he pulls out the gun he was given, as Cole is dying in Railly's arms, she sees a young boy (Joseph Melito) watching, it is James Cole as a child witnessing his own death, this will replay in his nightmarish visions, while Peters boards the plane, with the virus, and sits next to Jones (Carol Florence), one of the scientists from the future. Also starring Batman's Frank Gorshin as Dr. Fletcher, Christopher Meloni as Lt. Halperin, Joey Perillo as Detective Franki and Irma St. Paule as Poet. Willis gives a compelling performance as the man suffering great distress sent backwards and forwards in time to help save the human race, Pitt is also terrific as the twitchy leader of the group suspected of being the reason for the wipeout, I will be honest and say that the plot confused me in small moments, but it has a haunting atmosphere throughout, and the surrealist stuff works well, so overall it is a worthwhile neo-noir science- fiction mystery thriller. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Costume Design. Bruce Willis was number 35, and Brad Pitt number 15 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, Pitt was also number 5 on The 100 Greatest Sex Symbols, he number 52 on The 100 Greatest Pop Culture Icons, and he was number 30 The World's Greatest Actors. Good!