THE FUTURE IS HISTORY Following the commercial and critical success of The Fisher King, Terry Gilliam next feature would turn to science fiction and a screenplay by Janet and David Peoples (Blade Runner, Unforgiven) inspired by Chris Marker’s classic short film La Jetée. In 1996, a deadly virus is unleashed by a group calling themselves the Army of the Twelve Monkeys, destroying much of the world’s population and forcing survivors underground. In 2035, prisoner James Cole (Bruce Willis, Die Hard) is chosen to go back in time and help scientists in their search for a cure. Featuring an Oscar-nominated turn by Brad Pitt (Fight Club) as mental patient Jeffrey Goines, Twelve Monkeys would become Gilliam’s most successful film and is now widely regarded as a sci-fi classic. Arrow Films are proud to present the film in a stunning new restoration.
For thoughts on 12 Monkeys, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Arrow Films presents 12 Monkeys with a marvelous 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K restoration of the original 35mm camera negative graded in 4K HDR10/Dolby Vision. This transfer showcases absolutely nothing in the way of print damage. This presentation is as accurate to the original intention of the film as you could want with the added resolution making the world more lived-in and three dimensional. The depth of field on display is simply impressive. This disc mostly avoids unsightly digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances. One of the more pleasing aspects of the disc is the application of Dolby Vision for increased color output that takes this carefully composed film and displays every subtle hue of it in a manner never before possible. While the world of 12 Monkeys is often pretty drab, the new restoration features some complexities with the colors that reveal a depth you didn’t know you were missing before.
Perhaps even more important than the depth of color is the command of contrast and the grain field. This disc handles every environmental change from the lifeless interior of the mental institution to the future snowy wasteland with precision. The black levels are one of the showcases of the disc with nothing in the way of crush present, and white levels are likewise solid with no evidence of blooming. These elements allow the level of detail and clarity on display to be greater than ever before. The presentation provides nearly the perfect amount of natural film grain that helps bring out the textural details of the distinct production design. This grain resolves well with no fluctuations detected outside the most minor moments of spiking in some harsher moments. The subtle textures on display in the costumes and within the setting are unbelievable. This presentation is an unforgettable effort from the crew at Arrow Video.
The only mark against the initial batch of 4K UHD Blu-Ray copies that were sent out is a slight editing error during the remaster process that causes some continuity issues about 41 minutes into the film with a repeated shot. Arrow Video is aware of the issue and is planning a replacement program, so be sure to keep an eye on their social channels for updates.
Audio Quality
This 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with both a lossless DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track that immerses you into this world perfectly. The movie is filled with some thrilling moments which puts the low end to work, although this is far from an all-out action film. The score and certain song choices set the mood for this story which fills the speakers well. There were no issues with fidelity or damage to the track observed during the presentation. The film has a lot of great atmospheric effects that engage the surround speakers including the many sounds of the city and the hum of the instruments working together to transport James to the past. Dialogue comes through crystal clear in the front channel without being overwhelmed by any sound effects or score. The track has a great sense of directionality with sounds always emanating from the appropriate channels. This audio presentation is exactly what you want from this film
Special Features
The first pressing of the Arrow Video 4K UHD Blu-Ray of 12 Monkeys includes a 43-page booklet featuring the essay “The Audacity Of Hopelessness: Twelve Monkeys’ Grim Vision of the Future and the Present” by critic and author Nathan Rabin and the excerpt “Gilliam on Gilliam: Twelve Monkeys” by scholar and author Ian Christie. These works provide a great analysis of the film, the themes, the creatives and the behind the scenes details in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows:
- Audio Commentary: Director Terry Gilliam and producer Charles Roven provide a very informative and entertaining commentary track in which they discuss the background of the film, the details they got hung up on during production, the “condom”-like suit they designed, the themes they explore within the narrative, the style of the film, the finance people who caused headaches, the test screenings that drove them mad, and so much more that gets covered quite deftly throughout this track.
- The Hamster Factor and Other Tales Of Twelve Monkeys: A terrific 88-minute documentary directed by Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe (Lost in La Mancha) which covers almost everything you might want to know about this troubled production including all of the frayed nerves around working with a major studio, the clashing egos, the attempts to honor his vision in relation to what others believe the film to be, and so much more that offers impeccable insight into this experience. Even if you somehow hated this film, this documentary is worth watching as its own piece of art.
- The Film Exchange with Terry Gilliam: A 24-minute 1996 interview with Gilliam and critic Jonathan Romney recorded at the London Film Festival in which he discusses trying to work within the studio system, his reasons for ordering the above documentary to be made, how he worked with these huge stars, how his history as an animator impacts his filmmaking, how productions can easily spiral out of control and much more.
- Appreciation by Ian Christie: A new 16-minute video appreciation piece with film scholar Ian Christie, author of Gilliam on Gilliam, in which he discusses Gilliam’s intention to have a controlled film that would prove he could play well with studios, the characteristics of the performances in the film, the techniques Gilliam brought to the production, the film’s legacy and more.
- Twelve Monkeys Archive: A collection of 200+ concept images and sketches from the film, location photos and more are provided here.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-and-a-half minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
12 Monkeys remains one of Terry Gilliam’s best films as he proves he can mix high-minded narrative ideas with a more mainstream sensibility that straddles the line between arthouse and commercial. The presence of a memorable Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt may seem at odds with his ethos, but the world he has constructed never leaves you questioning who is behind the camera. It is a shame this one is not even more appreciated than it is, as it stands as an engrossing piece of science fiction from one of the most distinct filmmakers of our time. Arrow Video has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a terrific A/V presentation and a nice array of special features that further your appreciation for what was accomplished. This is a terrific release for longtime fans and newcomers alike. Recommended
12 Monkeys is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Arrow Video has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.