Limitless (2011)
According to the well-known saying, we, the silly little meatbags that we are, only use 10% of our brain. It's a great analogy for the vastness of human potential, a great philosophical jump-off point for what could be done if we could tap into the brain's true power and a completely and utterly wrong fucking statement. From what I understand, we only use about 20% of our brains AT ANY ONE TIME. Those four words make a hell of a difference. Hate to bring my boring mate Science to Limitless' party, but if there truly was a pill that enabled the taker to use 100% of their brain, they'd probably collapse in a heap, drooling and soiling themselves, arms windmilling wildly, whilst frothily ('cos of all the drool- keep up) alternating between telling you about what their drunken Aunt did last Christmas and the directions to the nearest Bureau de Change. Unfortunately, at no point does this happen to Bradley Cooper.
Limitless is the story of Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper), a down-and-out writer who takes an experimental drug called NZT, a clear pill that allows him to harness 100% of his brain's power. He becomes more perceptive, more driven and can think way faster and clearer than before. Understandably, Eddie uses it to become richer and more respected, immersing himself in the lucrative business of the stock trading and soon partners with hugely powerful businessman Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro). However, Eddie soon discovers that he isn't the only one aware of the drug and its amazing properties and that there are people out there willing to do anything to get their next fix. I liked the story. The plot kept me interested throughout and whilst silly, it's damn enjoyable. It's your standard "loser turns his life around with magical macguffin but finds it's not all sunshine" plot, but it does well with it. Bradley Cooper impressed me with his ability to actually act, having only seen him in the terrible Hangover movies and the A-Team film. I thought Abbie Cornish was good, but underused and Robert De Niro was fine being De Niro. I love that man.
Despite being all snarky in the opening paragraph, I like the whole concept. You become the perfect version of you. You can recall half memories and glimpsed information like it was nothing. Eddie becomes a true Renaissance man, learning languages and playing the stock market like a pro in a few days. I especially loved the fight scene where Eddie calls upon a childhood viewing of Way of the Dragon, a Muhammad Ali fight and a self-defence video to scrap his way out of trouble. It's innovative and interesting- two "i" words I rarely get to type in regards to action beats. Having said that, there is a chase scene where a good character (spoiler free, bitches) on NZT thinks their way out of a chase with a would-be murderer by using a small child as an offensive weapon. I laughed (as I'm sure the film intended) but it's still ridiculous and rather at odds with the rest of the film.
The thing I like about Limitless is the whole feeling of it. I know that's a vague, possibly twattish thing to say, but I can't think of a better way to describe it. I liked what it was bringing to the table. It's an indie movie writ large. From the impressive, but nauseating opening titles (seriously, that endless zoom effect on the big screen made me feel a bit sick) to the bright, saturated colours used to show Eddie on NZT, it's fun. It reminded me of a more restrained Scott Pilgrim at times, especially when it shows Eddie furiously typing on his laptop, with 3D letters and words falling all around him.
It's a decent thriller too. Whilst things are rosy for a time, Eddie soon discovers the more NZT he takes, the more frequently he blacks out, waking up in strange places with no memory of the preceding events. We understand and feel his need for the drug, but ultimately know that it's bad for him. Hell, we know it's going to lead him down a bad road as the film opens up on Morra, standing atop a penthouse balcony, bad dudes breaking the door down behind him and very few options available to him other than giving the pavement a 40-storey French kiss. Whilst I've seen this kind of thing before, I still found it all to be very compelling.
Limitless isn't the smartest film out there, but it's definitely one of the more entertaining ones. It made me think twice about writing off Bradley Cooper as just a cheesy grin and a marketable torso and kept me hooked 'til the credits rolled. It's certainly worth a viewing, at the very least for the great central concept. Just try not to think about it too much when you do.
According to the well-known saying, we, the silly little meatbags that we are, only use 10% of our brain. It's a great analogy for the vastness of human potential, a great philosophical jump-off point for what could be done if we could tap into the brain's true power and a completely and utterly wrong fucking statement. From what I understand, we only use about 20% of our brains AT ANY ONE TIME. Those four words make a hell of a difference. Hate to bring my boring mate Science to Limitless' party, but if there truly was a pill that enabled the taker to use 100% of their brain, they'd probably collapse in a heap, drooling and soiling themselves, arms windmilling wildly, whilst frothily ('cos of all the drool- keep up) alternating between telling you about what their drunken Aunt did last Christmas and the directions to the nearest Bureau de Change. Unfortunately, at no point does this happen to Bradley Cooper.
"Your powers are a gift from God or whoever the hell wrote your life script."
Limitless is the story of Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper), a down-and-out writer who takes an experimental drug called NZT, a clear pill that allows him to harness 100% of his brain's power. He becomes more perceptive, more driven and can think way faster and clearer than before. Understandably, Eddie uses it to become richer and more respected, immersing himself in the lucrative business of the stock trading and soon partners with hugely powerful businessman Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro). However, Eddie soon discovers that he isn't the only one aware of the drug and its amazing properties and that there are people out there willing to do anything to get their next fix. I liked the story. The plot kept me interested throughout and whilst silly, it's damn enjoyable. It's your standard "loser turns his life around with magical macguffin but finds it's not all sunshine" plot, but it does well with it. Bradley Cooper impressed me with his ability to actually act, having only seen him in the terrible Hangover movies and the A-Team film. I thought Abbie Cornish was good, but underused and Robert De Niro was fine being De Niro. I love that man.
Despite being all snarky in the opening paragraph, I like the whole concept. You become the perfect version of you. You can recall half memories and glimpsed information like it was nothing. Eddie becomes a true Renaissance man, learning languages and playing the stock market like a pro in a few days. I especially loved the fight scene where Eddie calls upon a childhood viewing of Way of the Dragon, a Muhammad Ali fight and a self-defence video to scrap his way out of trouble. It's innovative and interesting- two "i" words I rarely get to type in regards to action beats. Having said that, there is a chase scene where a good character (spoiler free, bitches) on NZT thinks their way out of a chase with a would-be murderer by using a small child as an offensive weapon. I laughed (as I'm sure the film intended) but it's still ridiculous and rather at odds with the rest of the film.
The thing I like about Limitless is the whole feeling of it. I know that's a vague, possibly twattish thing to say, but I can't think of a better way to describe it. I liked what it was bringing to the table. It's an indie movie writ large. From the impressive, but nauseating opening titles (seriously, that endless zoom effect on the big screen made me feel a bit sick) to the bright, saturated colours used to show Eddie on NZT, it's fun. It reminded me of a more restrained Scott Pilgrim at times, especially when it shows Eddie furiously typing on his laptop, with 3D letters and words falling all around him.
It's a decent thriller too. Whilst things are rosy for a time, Eddie soon discovers the more NZT he takes, the more frequently he blacks out, waking up in strange places with no memory of the preceding events. We understand and feel his need for the drug, but ultimately know that it's bad for him. Hell, we know it's going to lead him down a bad road as the film opens up on Morra, standing atop a penthouse balcony, bad dudes breaking the door down behind him and very few options available to him other than giving the pavement a 40-storey French kiss. Whilst I've seen this kind of thing before, I still found it all to be very compelling.
"A tablet a day and I was limitless..."
Limitless isn't the smartest film out there, but it's definitely one of the more entertaining ones. It made me think twice about writing off Bradley Cooper as just a cheesy grin and a marketable torso and kept me hooked 'til the credits rolled. It's certainly worth a viewing, at the very least for the great central concept. Just try not to think about it too much when you do.
2 comments:
I wasn't expecting a particularly good review for this film, but you've made it sound fun. I think this may be one to look out for in the bargain DVD bins in eight or so months time :D
Damn I missed this one!! Will wait for DVD!! x
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