Twelve Monkeys

Year: 1996
Director: Terry Gilliam
Cast: Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, Christopher Plummer

Now here's a movie that's unique in style and substance. There have been many sci-fi thrillers featuring time travel, but this one stands out thanks to the talented cast and great storyline.

Twelve Monkeys begins in the near future, when 99% of humanity has been wiped out by a virus. The remaining humans live underground in a prison-like facility, run by people who occasionally send 'volunteers' to the surface to collect information. One such 'volunteer' is James Cole. On one of his trips topside, he collects enough information to please the keepers, who then decide to send him on a special mission: go back in time to gather information about the virus that wiped out humanity, and who's responsible.

So they send Cole back in time, but instead of landing in 1996, his intended time, he winds up in 1990. Cole ends up getting arrested and placed in an asylum, where he meets Dr Kathyrn Railly, a psychologist who sympathises with him, but doesn't believe his story about being from the future. He also meets Jeffrey Goines, a fellow patient who helps him escape the asylum. Cole later realises that Jeffrey may be connected somehow to the virus' release.

His bosses from the future eventually manage to send him to the right year, where Cole runs into Dr Railly again. He kidnaps her and forces her to help him find the answers he needs. Just like before, she doesn't believe him, until she comes across certain facts that validate his story. She tries to help him uncover the secret, which is connected to a group called The Army Of The Twelve Monkeys, which is also connected to Jeffrey. But can Cole find the answers and stop the catastrophe in time?

I have to give plenty of credit to Bruce Willis for an outstanding performance, especially since he was more well-known for his action roles at the time he made this film. His character James Cole comes off as a desperate man trying to accomplish the task given to him, as he struggles to keep his sanity in check each time he travels back in time. His anguish and pain is very believable, especially in the scene where he starts crying upon hearing music in 1996, since there's no music in his time. Brad Pitt also shines as the insane Jeffrey Goines, who provides most of the humour in the film. Pitt was nominated for an Oscar for this role, and rightfully so. He's just so crazy, you can't help but laugh out loud. Madeleine Stowe provides the necessary balance between sanity and insanity as Kathryn Railly, and puts in a strong performance.

Kudos must also go to Terry Gilliam for giving the film a dark and moody look throughout. All the sets and visuals in the film, from the future time to the present day, look very bleak and apocalyptic indeed. It fits the film's concept like a glove. Twelve Monkeys also received an Oscar nomination for Best Costume Design, and Pitt won the Golden Globe for his role here.

With great direction, a strong cast and an impressive storyline, Twelve Monkeys is a masterpiece for anyone who loves a good story. (4.5/5)