12 Monkeys Review & Analysis
Written by: Lee Fenton
This article was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the hard work and dedication of the writers and actors, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist. In fact, no films or television would.
We stand in solidarity.
Directed by Terry Gilliam (better known for his role in Monty Python's Flying Circus) and released in 1995 - Twelve Monkeys' story is centered around time travel and the release of a globally devastating virus.
The cinematography is equal parts uncomfortable and claustrophobic. The use of Dutch angles to evoke paranoia; allows the viewer to experience the events through the eyes of the protagonist: James Cole. The scenes that take place in the dystopian future, are exuberantly surreal – not to mention Lynchian in their aesthetic.
In my view this film's visuals draw from one David Lynch picture in particular; Dune (1984). It is hard to ignore the parallels, and in my opinion Terry Gilliam took inspiration from some of the best visuals of Dune and utilized them in 12 Monkeys.
This is not a criticism, seeing as Gilliam's direction differs enough that is a loving homage, or tribute to Lynch's work – instead of a director - who's sole aim is to plagiarize because they have no creative voice of their own. Also I would argue that overall – Gilliam's film is the more pristine of the two, although Dune 1984 has a close place in my heart; even a fan must be subjective and admit it has many, many flaws.
Living through the Coronavirus; and the scary realization that society is always a few viral mutations away from extinction, allows for more empathy with the main character. This film quickly illustrates that animals have retaken the planet since the release of the deadly virus. This is indeed one of the side-effects of a global pandemic. During the peak of Covid-19 lock-downs, animals took to public spaces with overt abundance. This film has aged in a way, that what was once pseudo-science - is now proven to be accurate.
For that, and many other reasons this film is ripe for retreading; I must not be the only one to feel this way; since it recently inspired a television series reboot that aired in 2015 (running for 4 seasons). The relevancy of the film's central premise is exemplified in the fact that a global pandemic effectively shut down the world down a few years back. Science fiction is that genre that seems to only increase in relevancy and never decrease.
I feel that 'Contagion' (worth a watch, for sure) is a film that details the outbreak of a global pathogen, while 12 Monkeys allows a chilling glimpse into the after effects.
12 Monkeys is based upon a half hour short comprised of still images, titled 'La Jetee' (directed by French filmmaker Chris Marker) which swept film festivals and received an abundance of accolades. The melancholy of 'La Jetee' carries through in 12 Monkeys, albeit with a greater sense of suspense due to the differing medium of film vs still imagery. The short is colored with a sense of dread of the unknown that continues until the final sequence.
The time travel plot and iconic twist of the movie are all products of Chris Marker's ingenuity. Truly a brilliant work of art that Terry Gilliam adapted expertly to the silver screen. 12 Monkeys is a titanic accomplishment and contains plenty of directorial choices (visually and otherwise) by Gilliam that are ubiquitous, and are not a product of Chris Marker's work.
Bruce Willis' role as James Cole is possibly his best performance in any film. Pulp Fiction is a contender as well; yet I feel more drawn to this interpretation of the soul lost in time. His abject hopelessness is mesmerizing to watch and his characters emotional anguish propels the film forward to its poetic ending.
Without spoiling anything, it is a tearful twist - you may never forget.
(9/10) côte d'agneau pan roasted with a side of grilled asparagus
bon appetit!
