12 Monkeys (1995)

Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

It's time travel movies for this pairing, and two very different looks at the phenomenon (although both have an actor in common)! First up, director Terry Gilliam, of Monty Python fame, leads us on a whirlwind trip that may or may not actually be time travel in 1995's "12 Monkeys!" James Cole (Bruce Willis) is a prisoner in a strange, futuristic institution. One day, he's volunteered for something no one has ever returned from, according to his next-cell-neighbor, Jose (Jon Seda). Cole is sent to the surface to observe and report back, since scientists are still trying to solve the issue of the virulent plague that killed 99% of humanity a couple decades ago. After proving himself useful, he's again volunteered to be sent back in time for more information. He's supposed to end up in 1996, the year the virus was released, but instead ends up in 1990. There, he's quickly institutionalized after appearing quite insane, where he meets fellow inmate Jeffrey Goines (Brad Pitt) and sympathetic psychiatrist Dr. Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe). He manages to escape, only to be yanked back to the future, then sent downtime again, this time to 1996, where he pursues the origin of the plague and convinces Dr. Railly that he's actually not insane. Or is he? Are the trips to and from the future real or are they just delusions, part of the manifestation of his mental illness? Also starring Christopher Meloni, Christopher Plummer, and Frank Gorshin!