By William John
Experiment 626 (which may, or may not be Stitch's real name) is an event embarked on by the I'm With Geek Film Team. Film knowledge was unearthed, truths were found and a DVD exchange took place. These are the true life stories from that experiment...
To William from Matthew
Upon William I bestow 12 Monkeys! Why did I pick this for William? These are the films he chose as among his favorites: Serenity, Rear Window, The Dark Knight, Back to the Future, The Shawshank Redemption, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Frequency. Based on his preferences, I see he likes dark, he like science fiction, (but thoughtful science fiction), and he has two movies on his list that feature time travel (plus he's also a fan of The Time Traveler's Wife, so that's three).
Experiment 626 (which may, or may not be Stitch's real name) is an event embarked on by the I'm With Geek Film Team. Film knowledge was unearthed, truths were found and a DVD exchange took place. These are the true life stories from that experiment...
To William from Matthew
Upon William I bestow 12 Monkeys! Why did I pick this for William? These are the films he chose as among his favorites: Serenity, Rear Window, The Dark Knight, Back to the Future, The Shawshank Redemption, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Frequency. Based on his preferences, I see he likes dark, he like science fiction, (but thoughtful science fiction), and he has two movies on his list that feature time travel (plus he's also a fan of The Time Traveler's Wife, so that's three).
So I was looking for a film that embodied as much of what William seems to like as possible. I listed a bunch of movies, none of which really rang my bell (and all of which he'd no doubt seen). I toyed with David Cronenberg's eXistenZ and Spielberg/Kubrick's A.I., but rejected everything. Then 12 Monkeys hit me like a bolt out of the blue, and I knew it was the right choice. 12 Monkeys is a tremendously strong science-fiction mind-bender from Director Terry Gilliam, the kind of film M. Night Shyamalan wishes he could make. It has the darkness William favors in many of his picks, as well as the thoughtfulness. Released in 1995, it was a critical hit, a modest US box-office hit, and a box-office monster overseas. Terry Gilliam is a director who's work I rarely like. He's too undisciplined, too messy, but on 12 Monkeys he was working by a terrific script by David Webb Peoples and Janet Peoples, based on Chris Marker's mind-blowing La Jetée, which may just be the coolest avant-garde short ever. He doesn't appear to have strayed from that script, didn't allow his often annoyingly wild imagination to get away from him and delivered his most nuanced and disciplined film.
The film casts a strong, dark mood helped along by a terrific Bruce Willis playing James Cole, a convict in a post apocalyptic future sent back in time to try to avert the plague that doomed humanity. It's utterly serious and missing the usual surreal madness that Gilliam often brings to his pictures, 12 Monkeys is a film that will haunt you and keep you thinking long after the final fade out. Plus, it's kind of old so there is a possibility he missed it.
The film casts a strong, dark mood helped along by a terrific Bruce Willis playing James Cole, a convict in a post apocalyptic future sent back in time to try to avert the plague that doomed humanity. It's utterly serious and missing the usual surreal madness that Gilliam often brings to his pictures, 12 Monkeys is a film that will haunt you and keep you thinking long after the final fade out. Plus, it's kind of old so there is a possibility he missed it.
William's 12 Monkeys Review
OK, quite a recommendation there, Matthew. I’d just like to say thank you for finally getting me to watch a film that had sat shyly on the edge of my radar for many years without braving to dip it’s toe in the pool (I think that mixed metaphor worked…?). 12 Monkeys was a film I’d heard so much about, yet knew almost nothing of, which made it an absolute joy to receive for the exchange.
Where to begin? As my colleague stated above, 12 Monkeys is the film M. Night Shyamalan and indeed the rest of Hollywood wishes it could make; a truly dark and intriguing tale of time travel head-fuckery, woven perfectly by the genius of Terry Gillingham and sublime performances from Bruce Willis and a young, pre Fight Club Brad Pitt. Set in a dystopic future, ruined by disease, 12 Monkeys tells us the story of convict James Cole, a man haunted by nightmarish dreams of murder, as he’s sent back in time (with a wonderfully designed time machine… and nakedness), to discover the source of the man-made virus that has decimated the world. His only clue; the Army of 12 Monkeys. However in true cinema style, the time machine malfunctions, sending him back several years too far where he’s institutionalised alongside the son of a famous virus expert…
OK, quite a recommendation there, Matthew. I’d just like to say thank you for finally getting me to watch a film that had sat shyly on the edge of my radar for many years without braving to dip it’s toe in the pool (I think that mixed metaphor worked…?). 12 Monkeys was a film I’d heard so much about, yet knew almost nothing of, which made it an absolute joy to receive for the exchange.
Where to begin? As my colleague stated above, 12 Monkeys is the film M. Night Shyamalan and indeed the rest of Hollywood wishes it could make; a truly dark and intriguing tale of time travel head-fuckery, woven perfectly by the genius of Terry Gillingham and sublime performances from Bruce Willis and a young, pre Fight Club Brad Pitt. Set in a dystopic future, ruined by disease, 12 Monkeys tells us the story of convict James Cole, a man haunted by nightmarish dreams of murder, as he’s sent back in time (with a wonderfully designed time machine… and nakedness), to discover the source of the man-made virus that has decimated the world. His only clue; the Army of 12 Monkeys. However in true cinema style, the time machine malfunctions, sending him back several years too far where he’s institutionalised alongside the son of a famous virus expert…
Despite being a Gilliam mind-fuck, the film doesn’t conform to many of his typical tropes, meaning you as a viewer are able to (just about) follow along and enjoy the supreme and often understated acting talents of Brad Pitt, who’s almost too convincing as complete head-case, Jeffrey. Delivering an unnerving performance that will stay with you for a long time.
Unfortunately, as is the nature with any true classic, it's difficult to say much more about 12 Monkeys (that hasn't already been covered above) without seriously spoiling what I guarantee will be a number of edge of your seat twists that’ll keep you guessing to the very end and questing far beyond.
Honestly, Matthew, thank you so much for sending me 12 Monkeys, I feel like my life has been ever so slightly enlightened!
Unfortunately, as is the nature with any true classic, it's difficult to say much more about 12 Monkeys (that hasn't already been covered above) without seriously spoiling what I guarantee will be a number of edge of your seat twists that’ll keep you guessing to the very end and questing far beyond.
Honestly, Matthew, thank you so much for sending me 12 Monkeys, I feel like my life has been ever so slightly enlightened!
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