Time, memory, sanity - or insanity - and prophecy (Wikipedia's article on the film recognizes these concepts as well) are all themes examined and questioned closely in this film. 12 Monkeys is one strange duck - to be sure - but it is wonderfully woven forcing us at all times to wonder which time is real - what memories are accurate - is Cole (Bruce Willis) sane or not which would directly impact the truth of whether his prophecy will occur. In questioning all these things through the eyes of Cole, we have to then consider the implication to believe him one way or another has on the real world - which ever one is real if not both. Really - one thing is certain: the more things change, we realize the more they stay the same. Time is a cycle. Memories are a reflection of experiences yet to come. Sanity is assimilation. And science is the new religion.I'm not one for Sci-Fi, however, I am one for the weird. Thankfully, for me, the two often combine. So is the case with 12 Monkeys. The appeal, to me, over the Sci-Fi element is the weirdness. I enjoy the constant guessing game the audience must play through the film and I appreciate the unclear conclusions one may attempt to draw. While watching this, I felt as if I had to keep up with each scene to link the series of events.
The concept that most intrigued me, besides the time traveling, was the structuring of memories. I believe we, often, remember things the way we want to remember them. I think we also construct details based on pictures we see or experiences we have. 12 Monkeys allows the audience to go through this with Bruce Willis' character, James, as he reflects on a recurring dream. The faces change to become more familiar and pieces are added as the story builds. I was also interested in the fondness James had for music that seemed to escape him in the futuristic world from which he came. He seemed so comforted by listening to the radio as if it was something else that was added to the list of things taken away from him.
Watching Gilliam provides no shortage of weird - that's for certain. Time travel and the apocalypse are simply vehicles to force us to reflect on the struggle that takes place between those who want to control society's picture of sanity and those who want the freedom to experience life in a way that makes the most sense to them. It's a theme we've seen time and again in Gilliam's work - but it's constructed appeal to mass audiences in this movie - which showed in its $160M worldwide gross. Some might say that the appeal of Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt rolled in the audiences, but I can remember the strength in the word of mouth on how good this movie really was. Not only is the concept one that intrigues most of us - what if I was the only one that knew the end of the world was coming but no one believed me. Rarely is it done well - ask Al Gore and his Oscar about that!
The weird of this movie works so well because we see a future that is a blend of the past, present and imagined future. In other words, it's not very far from what we might imagine a post-apocalyptic future to resemble - the more things change, the more they stay the same. There are elements of his other work here - Python movies, The Fisher King and Brazil all seem to be here - but with a story that hooks us from the opening shot.
Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt certainly did not detract from the appeal, of course. When watching the scenes with Brad Pitt, I recalled the creepy character he played in Kalifornia and, most recently, his portrayal of the hyperactive fitness instructor in Burn Before Reading. Pitt is far more diverse than some may give him credit for and this seemed evident in his early work as well.
And although the film's themes were rather grim, there is also a sense of sarcasm, wit, and absurdity to it that, to me, reflected Gilliam's want to not take everything so seriously. I would say examples of this are included in the music from the film. This may be within the original songs from the score and of the playing of 'What a Wonderful World' locked on the FM driving to Pittsburgh. Humor being a sign of intelligence there is much intended here.
I was teased for years about having a man-crush on Brad Pitt, but the truth is this role is the beginning of my respect for his abilities. I saw then what very few chose to see - his ability to throw himself completely into a role. His ability to improvise throughout the scenes of the mental hospital are as hilarious as they are frightening. Pitt - the pretty boy is nowhere to be found in this movie. Yes, he threw himself completely into the role - as did Willis. I couldn't help but wonder how difficult it would be to drool on queue as Willis sits in the jail cell in 1990. Gilliam has taken some great actors and showcased talent that many of us as views have not seen in any other role - DeNiro in Brazil and Depp in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas come to mind imediately. This movie is no different. For those that are not Pitt fans, this is one that will make you reconsider - and you'll certainly get more out of Willis than the quick one-liner. He said, "It's a multi-view." This movie is one that you can not watch without dedicating full attention. The story is very complex, and if you miss something early - you'll either feel lost or miss the genius of this tight-tight script. If you're a Sci-Fi fan or a Gilliam fan, this belongs on your shelf as one of the best in both categories.
Slightly confused but continuously interested, I was glad to be able to watch this again.
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