12:01 PM

BLOWN-AWAY.

That was the result of watching this 25 minute short film made almost 20 years ago. Obviously, I'm another one of those Groundhog Day fans that, out of curiosity, wanted to see this movie. And I thought it was absolutely fantastic. It was like a true Shakespearean play; fascinating, and original story (it was adapted from a short story, but this was the first film of many that dealt with "time-loops" and "repetition of time"), as well as a tragic and profound end.

Interestingly enough, after watching the movie, I felt it was one of the best shorts I'd ever seen, and maybe only one or two were better, including "The Lunch Date", which I found out is the same short film that beat "12:01 PM" at the Oscars in 1991.

So, for those of you who are GH fans, this is a must, and for anyone who is looking for an amazingly unique film experience in only 25 minutes or less, this movie is for you.

Kurtwood Smith is a really good actor and this is proof enough. The script is excellent and Smith's performance draws you right into what life has become for Myron Castleman. A living hell.

The idea of a time loop was later reused for Groundhog Day and by these same filmmakers 3 years after this came out. I vaguely remember seeing the feature length movie called 12:01 but the focus is not so much on the science behind the theory as it is in this. The theory is matter and antimatter colliding which causes a perpetual loop in time which was formed over the length of time of the collision. Everything made of matter relives the time in that loop and nothing more. Myron is one of the few (only one he meets anyway) aware of the fact that everyone is trapped reliving the same 59 minutes.

It's a dark sci fi story. No romance or comedy. More like Kafka.

I remember watching this film when it was first broadcast on Showtime. I really liked it then, and still do now. Good writing and performances all around, especially by Kurtwood Smith who rarely gets a chance to play the lead in any project.

Following the main character through his trials and investigations you really get a feeling of the horror and turmoil the simple every man is going through.

I also came away from this film with the quote "Consciousness is an independent variable".

Of the two 12:01 movies I consider this the more impressive. As other reviewers have mentioned the film focuses on a 59 minute loop, and shows that if you only have one hour to live over and over again then you can't achieve very much.

If you've seen Groundhog day and seriously got into the time loop, wanting to know more about why the main character was stuck then this movie might appeal as you here some science.

The little-seen '12.01' is a real gem, and displays the beauty of short films. Just the right length to explore the intriguing premise without over staying its welcome. I wish more feature length movies showed the subtlety and invention of this one!

Kurtwood Smith (Verhoeven's classic 'Robocop', and Jennifer Lynch's absolute stinker 'Boxing Helena') has never been better as a meek office worker who finds that the world is caught in a time loop, and that he is the only person conscious of the fact. Smith is utterly believable as the bewildered and desperate man who frantically searches for some kind of explanation/solution for his extraordinary situation.

A classic of its kind. Try and see it!