Directed by:
Terry GilliamCinematography:
Roger PrattComposer:
Paul BuckmasterCast:
Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, Christopher Plummer, Jon Seda, David Morse, Bill Raymond, Frank Gorshin, Chuck Jeffreys, Matt Ross (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
Cole (Brue Willis) is sent back in time to save the human race from a deadly virus. Along his travels, he encounters a psychiatrist (Madeleine Stow) and a mental patient, brilliantly portrayed by Brad Pitt, who may hold the key to the mysterious Army of the 12 Monkeys, thought to be responsible for unleashing the killer disease. Believing he can obtain a pure virus sample in order to find a cure in the future, he is met with one riddle after another that puts him in a race for time. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (10)
Unfortunately I can’t award twelve stars for the 12 Monkeys, but that changes nothing about the fact that this is not only the zenith of Gilliam’s works, but also the best sci-fi movie ever. And therefore is one of the best works of world cinema. The screenplay is flawless to the T and the ending, which you will comprehend only after watching it several times over and the optimism of the elating message (not the obvious one, but the one hidden under the surface), is just unbeatable. And that’s all I intend to write about this picture - if you have already seen it, you know how powerful and what genius these monkeys hold inside them. And if you haven’t, then you’ll understand when you see it.
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First and foremost, a thorough script guarantees a quality spectacle. And I dare to say that on the first watch, this film is difficult to understand, and penetrating all the nuances and intricacies of the script can only be achieved on a second or third viewing. It can be said that throughout the the film, we do not know where we stand. There are plenty of deceptive references and supporting characters. All of this is wrapped in Terry Gilliam’s typical visual style and unmistakable signature. I dare not claim that I fully understood this masterpiece, but I can confidently say that there are very few films of this kind, with such a large dose of originality and directorial invention. And when you add excellent performances by Bruce Willis and Madeleine Stowe, the result is nothing short of a masterpiece.
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An interesting futuristic view for that time and a nice concept of time travel, but not so impressive today. There are much better pieces in the genre, more action-packed and more nimble concepts and here not much happens in two hours. On the other hand, the main qualities of 12 Monkeys are not "during it", but in what comes "after it" - or rather, after the closing credits. I've never seen a film that didn't have an official interpretation of the ending, it was explained by the filmmaker, but also by the audience, who simply hasn’t agreed on the final version. And that's what I like about this film. Otherwise, though, the main storyline is too talky for me, and even Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis can’t significantly save it, so I'll leave the three-star rating with the comment that the ending will be on my mind for a long time to come. A fun film.
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Some films can give us an intellectual experience and others can give us an emotional experience. 12 Monkeys gives us both, presenting each in exemplary form and blending them into a perfectly harmonious form in the climax. It is a form in which one can find something new even on the tenth viewing, thus making 12 Monkeys a gem of the sci-fi genre.
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Brilliant! Terry Gilliam is known for his original and specific work, and with 12 Monkeys he brings it to absolute perfection. It's not every day that a film is so imaginatively and brilliantly directed from start to finish, and that the imagery and, above all, the plot are so varied and sophisticated that you can't help but pop the DVD back into the player and immerse yourself in the cinematic poetry with even greater intensity. It’s is not a groundbreaking work like Kubrick's Odyssey and its nowadays routine visuals won’t lift viewers from their seats, but thanks to its literally timeless story, the great performances and the endless imagination of one film crew, it’s definitely one of the gems of world filmography.
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