Twelve Monkeys, 1995. My Journey into Science Fiction Part 10.

Hello, and welcome to Journey into Science Fiction Part 10. 12 Monkeys is a 1995 American science fiction thriller film and was directed by Terry Gilliam. The screenplay was written by David and Janet Peoples and it was inspired by Chris Marker’s short film La Jetée, 1962. The movie stars Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stow, Brad Pitt and Christopher Plummer. I have never watched La Jetée, but the synopsis has caught my attention, and I will be watching that short film as soon as I can.

12 Monkeys begins, and James Cole Bruce Willis is introduced as a volunteer for something, but whatever that is, will have to wait. James is showered and cleared for quarantine and is finally briefed about his mission. James is a prisoner living in an underground compound in Philadelphia. However, he now has a chance to bring humanity back to the surface of Earth, in exchange for a shorter sentence of course. Baltimore, April 1990 and James Cole is detained in a police cell while rambling about the year 1996. Dr Kathryn Railly Madeleine Stowe, who is present at the police station has no choice but to section James and send him to the local asylum. Once there, James is shown around his new dwellings, by long-time patient Jeffrey Goines Brad Pitt. This scene is remarkable, and features crazy twisted camera angles, while you listen to sound effects from a loony tunes cartoon. It reminded me of the sixties Batman show in an obscure way.  James is given the chance to prove his sanity in front of a board of psychiatrists, and for some confusing reason, they do not believe his story about events that have not yet happened. James is locked up, drugged up and has nowhere to go. No Problem, as he has already decided that the human race deserved to be wiped out. However, his new asylum buddy, Jeffrey, tells him he can help him escape his current living arrangements. The plan goes wrong, leaving a nurse with a fractured skull and James strapped to a bed in a secure cell. Dr Railly has a feeling all is not what it seems with this patient, and she might have a point, as James manages to free himself of his shackles while locked in a secure cell and then vanishes without a trace. 

So we learn that James has been sent back in time, but they sent him to the wrong year. So, they decide to give him another chance and send him to World War One. That cannot be right. A slight mistake and Baltimore 1996 is more appropriate. The Doomsday Syndrome? Dr Railly’s new book is now available at all major outlets. Dr Railly has been doing some research, and it turns out James isn’t the only one who claims to be from the future. James has just visited a battlefield, where an English-speaking man claimed he was from the future. James Cole is finally in the right year, also in the back of Dr Railly’s car, I think we can call her Kathryn from now on. He kidnaps Kathryn, so she can help him track down the Twelve Monkeys in Philadelphia. Who are, and what are the Twelve Monkeys? Well, a few paint splashes on the tarmac and walls lead to an army of animal activists, that is organised by none other than James’s recent friend, Jeffrey Goines. The activists believe they are fighting against humanity’s destruction of the environment. Is this the cause of the disaster that ruins the Planet for mankind? James decides to confront Jeffrey at the home of his father, who is one of the world’s leading virologists. It was James who mentioned the destruction of humanity when he was high on medicated drugs in the asylum, Jeffrey just adapted his story, slightly. The Twelves Monkeys were never destined to wipe out humanity, they just wanted to realise all the animals from the local zoo and place Jeffrey’s dad in a cage. So, who is responsible for the virus outbreak? Well, it turns out it was an employee of Dr Leland Goines, and there is more.  Zoologist Dr. Peters David Morse is also a fan of Kathryn’s work and her book. Even boasting a signed copy from her. It is Dr Peters that plans to release the virus via a tour of several cities within the US. Throughout the film, we witness a flashback, and it turns out that these memories belong to a young James. Peters enters the airport and is ready to release the virus into the World. James does not manage to stop him but leaves enough information with his younger self so he remembers what to do when he is older.

So, what came first, The Doomsday Syndrome book or the virus?  12 Monkeys leaves me with more questions than answers, but I love that. I guess every event was needed to make the story work. Back to The Future is a classic, but a movie like this shows just how messed up time travel could be. 12 Monkeys delivers an incredible story, beautiful scenery and a fantastic cast of actors. I cannot wait to sit down and watch this film again sometime. It deserves its recognition as a cult classic science fiction film. I am aware of the 12 Monkeys series by Terry Matalas, so maybe that is worth a try. Let me know?

So, where will I travel to next, in My Journey into Science Fiction Part 11? I’m going to keep this connection very simple. The composer of the soundtrack of 12 Monkeys is Paul Buckmaster. The composer also played with David Bowie and his band while recording the soundtrack for The Man Who Fell to Earth, 1976. I have become a big fan of David Bowie, and the achievements he made in his lifetime are extraordinary. However, I have never watched this movie before, and it’s time I changed that.

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