A celebration of the inherent madness and doom of humanity. Bruce Willis plays freaked-out, childlike confusion very well (he's had a lot of practice) and we are pulled along for the ride, often as confused about the paradoxical plot as he is.
You know what I was thinking while watching this? "damn that looks a lot like 'Brazil'". So it turns out the two films share a their director: the brilliant Terry Gilliam. You can see elements of both 'Brazil' and 'Blade Runner in the style of sets (the future in particular). Many shots use dutch angles and drunken jerking pans, which is very reminiscent of 'Brazil' in particular. The movie also has an extensive use of Fresnel lenses to magnify the future scientists in ways vary similar to parts of 'Brazil' (where they were often used for screens - as they once were in real life - but I'm thinking of the torture scenes specifically here).
The plot is inundated with twists and possible explanations to the bizarre (many of which turn out to be false), and the viewer is completely taken along with the fast madness. It is difficult to distinguish what is real and what is not as we are trapped inside Cole's damaged perspective. The conclusion is somewhat satisfying if a little rushed (or that's the feel I got from it) but it concludes a desperate film in like manor (so concludes well, I guess).
There are several nods to other cinema, possibly the best of which starts when Cole and Kathryn are hiding out in a theater that is playing 'Vertigo'. The scene with the tree stump is on, and later in their own lives they live it out again as the music from the movie plays as part of the soundtrack. This shows how Cole is trapped withing his own personal paradox, and is doomed to repeat in the "future" what he has already witnessed in the "past".
The way that Cole and Kathryn come to understand each other, and their situation, is also fun. As he begins to accept his insanity and openly refutes his ability to travel in time, she begins to believe his earlier claims as she collects the evidence to support them. I liked the bit where they are talking in the hotel room at this moment and it is all very serious, and then an angry pimp with a giant hat randomly bursts in.
It would be a crime if I didn't mention Brad Pitt's manic contribution as he did a great job, bringing back memories of 'Fight Club' in the mental institution right out of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'.
Also, I wrote a longer thing on '12 Monkeys' for University, if you'd like to read it.
Also, I wrote a longer thing on '12 Monkeys' for University, if you'd like to read it.
12 Monkeys: 88.5