12 Monkeys - The Racket - Timetable

Twelve Monkeys (1995)- Bruce Willis stars in this Terry Gilliam remake of La Jetee. Plot: A convict goes back in time to investigate a man-made virus that wiped out Billions of people. Highly rated (IMDB rank 235) this movie has a great futuristic look and an interesting plot. Willis does well in the leading role, while Pitt overacts to an annoying degree. It a way it’s a great movie and it kept me involved, but the movie has a brain but no heart. Like Brazil and Memento its all just an exercise in cleverness and atmospherics. The characters are unlikable and it says nothing interesting about the human condition. Everyone should see it at least once, but I have no desire to re-visit it.

The Racket (1928) – Silent film based on a popular play. Plot: An honest police captain vows to bring down a powerful bootlegger who is protected by corrupt politicians and judges. This was pretty good. An entertaining gangster film with well cast leads. Unfortunately, the plot and various gangster scenes have been copied so often in the last 90 years, it all seems like old hat. The acting is good and realistic, especially Louis Wolheim as the ruthless gangster who dislikes the Law and women (shades of Rico). Note: the Leading Lady and 2 male leads met sad ends. Two of three died of cancer in the 1930s while Marie Prevost drank herself to death.

Timetable (1956)- Nice little crime movie about an Investigator (Mark Stevens) trailing a man who stole a $500,000 payroll from a baggage-car. Its a "B" movie but full of plot twists and intriguing characters, and features a supporting cast of familiar faces (Alan Reed, Jack Klugman, etc).