Director Terry Gilliam Discusses Brad Pitt’s Performance in 12 MONKEYS and Why He Makes the Films He Does

Terry Gilliam is a talented director who has made some wonderful and crazy films over the course of his career. Some of those films include Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Time Bandits, 12 Monkeys, Brazil, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and more.

I love the style of the films that he makes and the strange worlds and characters that he introduces us to. During a recent interview with Variety, Gilliam talked about why he makes the films that he does, and said that his main goal as a filmmaker was “to make films that make you think about the world in a different way.” 

He’s looking to do something different because he said that the way reality is presented in the media is “too limited,” and he’s looking to tell stories that are “more fascinating, bizarre and surprising.” He explained:

“I don’t make fantasy films, though, because that doesn’t interest me. What interests me is this battle, the tension between imagination and reality. The most important of our senses is not hearing, or touch, or taste – it’s our sense of humor. We live in an absurd world – as a species we’re rather absurd – and if we can’t laugh about ourselves, I don’t see the point of living.”

Yep, that pretty much perfectly sums up the kinds of movies he makes and that’s why I enjoy watching them! He went on to talk about his 1995 movie, 12 Monkeys, which I remember blew me away when I first saw it. Gilliam explained that he believed the film was a success because he cast Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt in roles that were totally different from the other roles they were playing at the time. Willis was cast as an introverted prisoner named James Cole, and Pitt played an insane mental patient named Jeffrey Goines. He then talked about Pitt’s performance saying:

“Brad worked incredibly hard to prepare for the role – he went to psychiatric wards, visited mental hospitals… and the first day of the shoot, he exploded on the set! It was breathtaking how funny he was, how strange, how psychotic, it was incredible! So, in the end, Bruce did one of the best performances of his life, and so did Brad.”

I remember being so impressed with Pitt’s performance in the movie and thought for sure it would win him a Best Supporting Actor award. He was just so damn good in that film!

If it’s been a while since you’ve watched 12 Monkeys, it’s a movie that’s definitely worth revisiting.