Twelve Monkeys
Plot
In the dystopian future of 2035, the last remnants of humanity eke out a desperate existence in sterile underground colonies, a bleak testament to the catastrophic consequences of the Simian Flu - a deadly virus that ravaged the world, leaving a mere 1 percent of the global population alive. In the ravaged world above, scavengers and ruins-roaming survivors struggle to survive amidst the twisted remnants of civilization. Amidst this desolate backdrop, a man named James Cole - known to the authorities as a volatile and unhinged individual - volunteers to travel back in time to uncover the truth behind the mysterious spread of the killer disease. The journey through time, facilitated by the Millennial Group - a shadowy organization dedicated to restoring the past - sends Cole careening into the year 1990 - not 1996, as intended. Detained by the puzzled authorities and subjected to the whims of circumstance, Cole is soon institutionalized at a psychiatric ward, much to his chagrin. At Moab Federal Prison Hospital, the befuddled James Cole meets Dr. Kathryn Railly, a psychologist with an empathetic ear and a curious mind. Dr. Railly quickly discerns that the hapless convict is, in fact, not certifiably insane, but genuinely sane, trapped in a web of time travel and circumstance that strains credulity. Sensing a deeper purpose behind Cole's erratic behavior, Dr. Railly begins to probe into the workings of his mind, forging a tentative bond with the tormented individual. The institutional visit of Dr. Railly also brings with it a second visitor - Jeffrey Goines, the intelligent and reclusive son of a renowned virologist, Leland Goines - the architect of a terrifying new virus known to this small group of visionaries and scientists as the Simian Flu, however, its creation originally stems from his father or perhaps his father was someone connected to the conspirators who was killed. The uncommunicative Jeffrey proves a complex individual, harboring seething contradictions and grappling with deep psychological scars. Cole sets Dr. Railly on the tail of this complex case while holding his breath: he wants the truth behind the origins of the Simian Flu. Not everyone has the faith that he brings positive change and so he struggles to get a meaningful understanding so they set him free from his prison. When Jeffrey disappears, Cole travels with the determined psychiatrist Dr. Kate to the countryside to meet him in order to provide him with clues for locating his father Leland Goines.
Reviews
Kayden
The screenplay is okay. But I'm adding an extra star solely for Brad Pitt's portrayal of the little neurotic. That genius actually managed to roll one eyeball up and the other down, simply brilliant. Whether he's playing the fool, being cunning, pretending to be profound, or acting like a rogue, Pitt makes it all look effortless. After this film, his status in my mind skyrocketed from a skilled actor to a true deity of acting.
Valentina
Here's a translation of your movie review points into English, keeping in mind the themes and style of "Twelve Monkeys": 1. Asylums – they represent the tyranny of the majority over the few, one of the things I loathe most in this world. 2. More than the time travel aspect, it's the eternally captivating apocalyptic mood that grabs me. A world overflowing with the desperate... perhaps the best new world is to simply let them all fade away? 3. What constitutes a "normal" existence? To live as just another consumer – like Brad Pitt's character lamented (wasn't that from Fight Club, though?)?"
Layla
All your devoutness and wisdom won't redeem it by a shred, all your tears won't alter it by a bit. ★★★★☆
Joy
One of the finest science fiction films of the 1990s, period.
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