Completely Different

Comments (0) By Patrick Williams Thursday, Oct 12 2006

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I'd like to believe that director/writer/Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam is a film genius. The guy was a co-writer of Life of Brian and animator for Monty Python's Flying Circus; he clopped coconuts together in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. That's gotta count for something, genius-wise. But then there's The Brothers Grimm, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Brazil... Distinctive, certainly, and sometimes even enjoyable, but mainly just really, really weird. Perhaps there's high art in Gilliam's stylized bizarreness, but it must be like modern orchestral music or performance art: I'm just too much the philistine to fully appreciate the genius. Maybe you have the requisite taste to fully appreciate Gilliam, however, or maybe you'd like to find out. If so, check out the Inwood Theatre's (5458 W. Lovers Lane) showing of 12 Monkeys, the 1995 apocalyptic time-travel sci-fi pic directed by Gilliam, at midnight this Friday and Saturday. More accessible than Brazil and possessing something like an actual narrative, 12 Monkeys is Gilliam 101, an easy introduction to his madness. Plus, you get to see a young Brad Pitt chew scenery like bubblegum. Admission is $8. Call 214-764-9106 or visit landmarktheatres.com.
Oct. 13-14