One of the leading cult favorites of the 1990s.

Rating: 8/10 (18 July 2010)

12 Monkeys is a complex and rewarding fantasy. In the middle of the 21st century, when most of the earth's population has been wiped out by a deadly virus and the few remaining people alive exist underground, a convict (Bruce Willis) is sent to travel back in time to find a cure.
Director Terry Gilliam's hit-and-miss genius is in full flower here, a perfect match for this fascinating story. Willis gives one of his best dramatic performances, while Brad Pitt certainly extended his range with his comic, if self-consciously showy turn as a nervously twitchy asylum inmate. It's a terrific thrill ride, with visual touches and sharp narrative turns that are utterly inspired.