Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this is a disturbing dystopian film that addresses the near eradication of human civilization by a virus. Characters drink, smoke, get in fights, evade the police, and kill one another. There are also upsetting scenes of mental institutions and jails as well as a graphic scene depicting WWI trenches. James Cole is repeatedly sedated, and images of him drooling and nearly catatonic are featured at several points. The movie raises lots of complex moral questions.
Families might talk about the boundaries between the sane and insane. Why is James Cole viewed as "sane" by some characters and "insane" by others? Similar questions could be asked about other characters, including Kathryn Railly and Jeffrey Goines. The film also deals extensively with issues of surveillance. Who is being watched in the film and why? Who is monitoring characters? How does this monitoring impact the characters and their actions?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Carly Kocurek
Few directors have visions as ambitious as Terry Gilliam's. Although cinematically rich, 12 MONKEYS is more than just a feast for the eyes -- it's a sharply-written, well-acted piece of cultural commentary. The futuristic plot follows the convict James Cole (Bruce Willis) who is "volunteered" to go on a mission back in time to 1996 to seek information pertaining to the Army of the Twelve Monkeys, a group believed to be responsible for releasing the deadly virus that nearly wiped out the earth's population.
Time travel turns out to be an inexact science though, and Cole is inadvertently sent to 1990, where he is institutionalized for insanity and meets Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe), a sympathetic psychiatrist. While in the mental institution, Cole meets Jeffrey Goines (Brad Pitt) the lunatic son of a well-known scientist. Whisked back to the post-apocalyptic present, Cole realizes that Goines is the leader of the Army of the 12 Monkeys. He asks to return to the past, where he again encounters Railly and further investigates the events leading to the release of the deadly virus, growing increasingly paranoid about surveillance by authorities, both in his present and in the past he is visiting.
Acting throughout the film is exceptional. Although at times skeptical or downright terrified, Stowe makes her character's alliance with James Cole seem reasonable. In the lead, Bruce Willis really demonstrates why he has managed such a long career; he is utterly charismatic on-screen. Gilliam's artistic vision is really allowed to develop in the film, and as a result, the film provides some very interesting commentary on the proliferation of media outlets.
Families who watch this film will find a number of topics for discussion. This film has a lot to say about issues of surveillance and media, and time travel is always an interesting topic. Still, it's best suited for older teens and adults.
Fans may enjoy other Gilliam films like Brazil (1985), The Fisher King (1991) and The Brothers Grimm (2005) or the French film which served as the basis for 12 Monkeys, La Jetée (1962).
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentAlthough relatively clear of sexual content, the film has quite a bit of non-sexual nudity. |
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ViolenceJames beats several people to death. There are also several scenes with guns and knives, including a disturbing scene that takes place in WWI trenches. |
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LanguageSome strong language. |
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Social BehaviorA scientist releases the plague that nearly destroys civilization. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoCharacters drink and smoke, but more upsetting are scenes in which James is tranquilized in jail and the mental hospital. |
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