There are many ways to look at the future.
That seems to be the case of directorTerry Gilliamin his now classic 1995 sci-fi drama12 Monkeys.
It doesnt seem so at first.
Image via Universal Pictures
Cole remarks frequently how much he misses music and the germ-free air of the late 20th century.
But these are all just cosmetics.
Coles scenes inside the 1990’s psychiatric hospital and the 2035s prison are nearly indistinguishable from one another.
Image via Universal Pictures
Nevertheless, there is beauty to how insanity is treated in12 Monkeys.
And, in12 Monkeys, he finds his sweet spot.
As Lieutenant Halperin (Christopher Meloni) points out, there isnt much sense in Kathryn siding with Cole.
Image via Universal Pictures
When she finally believes him, is she coming to her senses or is she buying into his insanity?
Perhaps it’s both.
It is impossible to tell.
Cole and Kathryns love story is just as logical as it is absurd.
The entire cast talks and behaves as if they were in the middle of a mass hysteria.
However, not all performances are cut from the same cloth.
As mental-patient-turned-animal-activist Jeffrey Goines, Brad Pitt frequently slips on his character’s ticks.
A character that should be perceived as threatening and a wild card can often seem just annoying.
The crooked cameras make the movie feel as if its trying too hard.
They are uncomfortable, sure, but not for the right reasons.
The movie has other, smaller flaws.
For instance,David Webb PeoplesandJanet Peoples screenplay can sometimes feel bloated.
Still, these issues are only to be expected of a movie as wild as12 Monkeys.
