Terry Gilliam’s always been a bit of a merry prankster. The worlds he creates in films like Time Bandits and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen are textured and ornate, stuffed to the edge of the screen with wacky colors, characters, and bric-a-brac. In 1995’s 12 Monkeys, the detail speaks – like his Brazil – to the frustration and futility of daily life. Not only is it his signature visual style, but also the notion of time travel. Bruce Willis’ James Cole travels back in time from a cold, brutal future to better understand how the human race was forced underground after a destructive plague spread across the world. His quest is cleverly connected to the ramblings of the mentally ill (portrayed to the tune of an Oscar nomination by young Brad Pitt), the power of hope, and the crushing defeat of inevitability.

Is time travel better served to tell stories about learning and changing? Are closed loops inherently frustrating for the audience, and indicative of cultural hopelessness? This week, Tobias and Ivey welcome their good friend Jennie Zell from Mouthy Broadcast and Playing Doctor Podcast to discuss 12 Monkeys and Time Travel!

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