Postmodernism: '12 Monkeys'

'12 Monkeys' is a film directed by Terry Gilliam, released in 1995, starring Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt and Christopher Plummer. It is inspired from the French short film, 'La Jetee' (1962)


• Introduction with modernist technology, through the use of computer digits introducing the story – a distinctive way of piloting the narrative with the use of telling the future in the beginning, rather than broadening the storyline or telling events during the present of the narrative
• Opens with a flashback – distinct through the baroque, as the picture has been edited with high contrast. Follows with a shifting of narrative (metalepse), highlighting a significance
• Idea of this being a dream – distorted, extraordinary with OTT colours through distinct contrast. Questions arise through the previous unexplained event
• Break of narrative to ‘present’, with bleaker colour introduced by man (Bruce Willis) waking up from the opening shot
• Post modern technology highlighted through the suit of man, gadgets helping him, idea of him moving through time through an elevator... highlights transformation of time, as this film is set in 2035: shows how technology has developed
• Social decay and change is established in third setting, as Willis is brought outside into winter settings – could be harsh for humans at this time from possible worsening of global warming, as his suit may emphasize: also, the isolation of the buildings and the randomness of the bears appearance highlights a negative change and scare- adds to interpretation from the audience’s view
• Questioning upon prisoner individuals and to why they are thrown into the outside setting – allows freedom, with conscious interpretations from the viewer.
• Security/organisation – the use of a woman over a loud speaker in a shopping mall has been elaborated through intertextuality, with her now taking overall authority of civilisation, compared to a small shop
• Use of costume makes a group of individuals appear superior, with their lab coats and formal language highlighting they take control. Emphasizes capitalism and how higher status/paid jobs take power
• Interruption of this storyline as we follow a separate area of the film – a woman. Non gender bias? Therefore, audience has to rely on memory from various types of film already from the start (e.g. remember dream to man in prison like area to being taken away to snow area to talking to authority figures to woman discussing a patient) However, audience will hope/aim that stories will interlink and these partial memories will combine the plot together. It highlights multi-voiced storylines
• Repetition in introduction of man, however from her perspective rather than audiences – he appears frightened now however, adding to the sublime storyline
• Ideas of ‘germs in air’ – highlights frightened idea of cleanliness and isolation, adding to previous shots in prison and outdoors
• Skip back in time, with man confused with time period ‘its 1990’- adds to time travel being an introduction, as well as an allocated job. Also, when man steps outside, settings are completely diverse and urban, adding to this dramatic change within years.
• Use of mental institution – stereotypical with the idea of blank white walls and men walking around gormless. Parody with man pretending an individual is in on the job, although deceitful. Also intertextuality with adapting an actual cartoon onto the television
• Adds to isolation when mocking the idea of having a ‘telephone call’ – contributes to the social isolation of mentally challenged individuals, as they are represented here in typical isolation. Brad Pitt almost clings onto isolation, as he thinks he’s on the ‘inside’ of things and forces his knowledge onto Willis, highlighting his need to cling onto society.