Common Sense Media Review
Terry Gilliam's violent dystopian masterpiece.
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12 Monkeys
What's the Story?
12 MONKEY'S futuristic plot follows 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.
Is It Any Good?
Few directors have visions as ambitious as Terry Gilliam's; while cinematically rich, this is more than just a feast for the eyes -- it's a sharply written, well-acted piece of cultural commentary.
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.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can 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?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 1, 1995
- On DVD or streaming : May 10, 2005
- Cast : Brad Pitt , Bruce Willis , Madeleine Stowe
- Director : Terry Gilliam
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 130 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence and language
- Last updated : June 21, 2024
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