Terry Gilliam is a director that I can't help but admire, and yet one that I am not that big a fan of. If you believe in the auteur theory then Gilliam definitely fits into it. There is a vision and style within his films which are undeniable Gilliam's and this is something I can't help praising. But, at least up to now, it had not been for me. I of course loved 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' (1975) with which he shared directing credits with Terry Jones, but of the two solely Gilliam directed films I have seen I can't say I like them all that much. 'The Zero Theorem' (2013) is a film that I just can't recommend, and although I see why people call 'Brazil' (1985) a masterpiece I have never been sold on it even after several viewings. I went into today's film, 'Twelve Monkeys' (1995), with all that baggage, so did I enjoy it? Let's find out. The film follows James Cole (Bruce Willis), a convict living in a future world devastated by a deadly virus that killed 99% of the world's population. Cole is chosen to go back in time to gather information about the virus so that they can create a cure for it in the future. Arriving in 1990 he is swiftly arrested, deemed mad, and sent to a mental institute. Here he meets a psychologist, Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe), who makes an instant connection with him due to believing she has seen him before. Trapped in the institute Cole has to either convince Railly that he is right or escape, while Railly, believing him to be mad, tries to help him.
I knew it would be before I started but this film is brilliantly made. The direction and editing go hand in hand to create an exquisite film on a technical level. Add to this some superb lighting and sound design and you are on to a winner. Put on a purely filmic level that all takes a back seat to the production design which is just wonderful. Brilliantly designed in a way that not only fits the tone of the film but helps to create it. The production design of the film is wacky and a bit off, even when it returns to the 1990s. It always feels like a different world within our world and I really appreciated it. The production design of the future world is where it is at its best, making the film an incredible visual experience as well as creating a fleshed-out environment but throughout it is fantastic and the real selling point of the film for me. The film is also home to several brilliant performances. Madeleine Stowe is great as Kathryn Railly, being able to portray a smart and grounded working woman but who changes her performance brilliantly throughout the film. The more she buys into Cole's story the more she slips into madness and she captures that brilliantly. Then you have Brad Pitt who is playing the insane Jeffrey Goines brilliantly. He captures a sense of insanity superbly but also has an air of leadership and gravitas to it. Not only that but he is just damn fun to watch throughout the film. And of course, there is Bruce Willis who is fantastic as Cole. This is a complex character who has us feeling all kinds of things towards him throughout the run time; apathy, empathy, fear, love, we want him to get caught, we want him to escape. Being able to portray all of this in one performance is extremely impressive and Willis pulls it off.
So the film is a visual treat and has some brilliantly fun performances, but these are on their own do not make a film. Fortunately this film is also an engaging and smart mystery thriller as well as an effective sci-fi film. I bought into the narrative of this film much more so than I did with 'The Zero Theorem' and 'Brazil'. I was hanging on every twist and turn, waiting to see where the film would go next. I was having fun guessing what may be coming up and then being surprised and pleased that I had guessed wrong and that is exactly what I want from a mystery film. But I also want these twists and turns to be set up in a way where they don't feel forced when they happen and the film manages to succeed at this. The film is also one with plenty of laughs. While not a bellyacher it does have a humorous tone to it which adds to the fun of the film. However, as with other Gilliam films I do have my issues, and I think it mostly just comes down to taste. Taste doesn't excuse the fact that the film is a little too long and could probably have done with being 15 or 20 minutes shorter. But I think I just need to admit that I am not a huge fan of Gilliam's madness. This film is much less mad than 'Brazil' but it still has Gilliam's fingerprints all over it and it just doesn't work all that well for me.
So after another step into the world of Gilliam it looks as though he may never be able to turn me around on him fully. What I will say regarding this is that I do think Gilliam is a fantastic filmmaker, I just don't enjoy him as much as so many other people. However, with all that being said, I did really enjoy 'Twelve Monkeys' and from the Gilliam films I have seen (Holy Grail not included) it is my favourite by some way. A brilliant visual treat with a truly engaging narrative and fun performances it is a film I see myself coming back to. I would recommend it mostly because I think Gilliam films are an experience even if you don't like them. That is why, despite my reservations, I will never stop watching 'Brazil', and if it fit my lockdown theme I would most likely be reviewing it as well.