Multiply layered masterpiece

Rating: 9/10 (27 April 2017)

Who doesn't like atmospheric movies? Those that can drag you into their world and make you feel like a part of it? Atmosphere is that aspect of a movie which can make up for other ill made aspects. It's like a glue which makes entire movie experience coherent and credible.
Twelve Monkeys is one of those movies. From beginning to the end it drags you every moment more and more into it's milieu. Sometimes it's a futuristic milieu and sometimes, rather most of the times, pretty ordinary 90's ambient. And still everything ordinary somehow tastes extraordinary. That's because we're following a story from Cole's (Willis) point of view. Going back to the past felt for him like being born in entirely different world. Clouds and air. People and the way they dressed and looked. Everything was different. And yet everything kinda looked so familiar. Like he had seen it before. This emotional element of somehow rediscovering this world as natural in contrast to unnatural and quaint underworld plays a pivotal role in engaging the viewer into Twelve Monkeys ambient.
What else makes a good sci-fi movie? I believe one of the most important aspects is seriousness. Not that seriousness without any kind of humor, but rather that one which takes future events and the way they correlate to us today seriously. Twelve Monkeys does it both ways. Past and future are being delivered to the viewer in a somewhat cataclysmic manner. You know how everything is going to eventually end, but still believe inevitable might somehow be side moved. I won't go into much detail of how good Willis, Pitt and Stowe are. But I'll tell you that both Pitt and Willis nailed very demanding roles. As one reviewer said it, Cole experiences serious time travel side-effects which makes the entire movie look more credible. Too bad Pitt hadn't won an Oscar for this role but got it for 12 Years a Slave where he just didn't have enough opportunities to show everything he's got. Madeleine Stowe play more important role than it might seem in the beginning.
I'd even say that she plays an almost central role. Not only is this movie amazing as a sci-fi movie, but it also has a very powerful romantic side as well. I'd even go so far as to say that sci-fi elements serve as means to reinforce romantic and personal struggles one faces in a world in which only some people decide "whether something is right or wrong".
I'll finish with a short note. This is one of those movies which, if seen correctly, can make you appreciate life more. It can provide you with material for reflection in forthcoming months. Be sure to get most out of it.