Review of Twelve Monkeys (1995) by Rainer K — 08 Aug 2011

12 Monkeys has Gilliam written all over it. The first five minutes contain all the elements that already made Brazil a cult classic (steam, futuristic plastic equipment, bulky impractical technology), some sets even look like they re-used them (the surface-scenes at the beginning).

It's also set in a dystopian Cyberpunk world - at least for some parts. The big difference between the two though is that in Brazil Gilliam uses dream sequences as a second reality layer to convey subliminal messages and in 12 Monkeys he uses the time travelling parts for this purpose.

The whole plot is a voyage back and forth trough time and requires active thinking of the audience. Information and reasons for the whole story are revealed very slow as if Gilliam tried to leave the audience with the knowledge of the "past" characters who don't know anything about the virus.

It ends, like most Gilliam films without a typical happy ending which is one of the things I like most about him.

But not only the ending is terrific though complicated, the actors (especially Brad Pitt as psychotic scientist-son) are great and the main music theme is perfect in its inaptitude.