Picture this, it’s 1995, Brad Pitt is fresh off of the set of Seven, and former Monty Python member Terry Gilliam is set to release a sci-fi movie starring the Hollywood heartthrob. Film fans of the 90s couldn’t wait to see what was in store – and decades later, viewers continue to be blown away with the thriller.
Twelve Monkeys is often overlooked as one of Brad Pitt’s standout movies, set in a post-apocalyptic future and adapted from the 1962 short film La Jetée. The film – also starring Bruce Willis – received high acclaim from critics and went on to gross $168.8 million worldwide, and viewers are still considering it to be some of Pitt’s best work.
One Rotten Tomatoes review says: “A strange, disturbing, and effective thriller that rocks phenomenal performances from Willis and Pitt and amazingly creative directing from Terry Gilliam.
“Though the plot could be pretty hard to follow at times, and the Vertigo scene was far too on the nose, this film properly thrilled me and kept me guessing for the entire run time.”
Another viewer said: “This is one of those films where you catch something new every single time you watch it, making it one mind-bending, crazy sci-fi experience no matter how many times you’ve seen it. The performances are amazing, especially by a young Brad Pitt and the phenomenal Bruce Willis in his prime.”
The story follows a time traveller, James Cole, played by Bruce Willis, who is imprisoned in the 2030s – which was far in the future at the time, but today is only a few years off – and is recruited for a mission that requires him to go back to the 1990s. Once he arrives, he is required to collect some information about the budding disease that’s on its way to exterminate a frightening amount of the world’s population. It’s hard not to draw eerie parallels with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Although he is supposed to be sent back to 1996, a mistake leads to him instead landing six years early – where he is locked up in a mental institution. There, he meets Dr Kathryn Railly, played by Madeline Stowe, who quickly realises he’s more than he seems.
He also meets Jeffrey Giones – played by Brad Pitt – the insane son of the famous scientist who also happens to be a virus expert. It might just be that he’s found the missing part to the puzzle.
In common with much of Terry Gilliam’s work – including Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail – Twelve Monkeys features some truly mind-bending imagery, and isn’t for the faint of heart. A rave review reads: “Incredible acting by Willis and Pitt. The cinematography is extremely distinct and memorable for such a surreal story and gives everything a unique identity.
“The editing is masterful as well. This is a film everyone should see once. It would be a crime to go into detail any further than that. All-time classic”
Another shared: “I can imagine this being awesome back in the ’90s. It’s still pretty good, especially if you enjoy time travel and pondering ethical questions such as the treatment of psychologically disturbed people, homelessness, and animal rights.”
Others, however, were less impressed, with one writing: “Really disappointed with this movie, given the high rating I found here. The acting is over the top, and the plot confusing – very art house. I found the relationship between Cole and Railly totally implausible which stopped me from really caring about the characters.”
Although he made his name as a heartthrob in movies such as Thelma & Louise, Twelve Monkeys was one of the movies which helped cement Brad Pitt as a serious actor, and paved the way for his roles in classics including Fight Club, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and 12 Years a Slave.
Take a look back on Pitt’s incredible career and watch the star play a psychiatrist patient in Twelve Monkeys, available to rent now on Apple TV.
Twelve Monkeys is available to stream on Amazon Prime.