Review of Limitless (2011) by Yorkman — 02 Apr 2016

Limitless is a film with a brilliant premise, with Bradley Cooper as Eddie Morrow, an intelligent but burnt out writer whose life is kind of running away from him. Tied to a deadline to produce the first chapters of a new book (after receiving an advance payment he's effectively wasted), dumped by his woman Lindy (Abbie Cornish), chased up for rent by his Chinese landlady and effectively getting to his wits end.

Salvation comes in the unlikely form of his ex-brother-in-law Vernon (Johnny Whitworth), a low-life drug dealer who he bumps into whilst on a walk around his neighbourhood. Seemingly well to do with flash clothes and a nice apartment, he gives Eddie a clear looking pill explaining it's an experimental drug which enhances recall.

Eddie, unsure but also running out of options, heads home and takes the pill on the way. He suddenly finds himself able to access every memory in his mind, literally everything that he's ever seen, heard or been exposed to. But not only that, these memories are coherent and accessible with the necessary context, effectively making him super-intelligent. With this massive increase in intellect comes a massive increase in confidence, focus and ability to learn.

He gets back to his apartment building and, using his new abilities, immediately beds the landlady's daughter after briefly spotting an obscure book in her bag that he remembered from his own days in college. He also recalls the background conversations between said book's owner and uses this knowledge (and his increased confidence) to dazzle the woman. He then immediately tidies his apartment, cleans all his clothes, and knocks out the chapters of his book in a few hours.

However, things get complicated when the pill wears off. Eddie goes to see Vernon, but Vernon is shot by those he had stolen the pills from. Eddie locates the pills and begins to take one a day, using them to turn his life around.

In order to secure funds he borrows a substantial amount from an Eastern European loan shark, and invests in the stock exchange, becoming the darling of the financial world. He reconnects with Lindy who is shocked by the transformation and worried about the pills. And he eventually comes into contact with Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro), a billionaire tycoon who has motives of his own.

Will Eddie come out on top? Watch the film and find out.

But is the film any good?

Well, yes and no. The first 45 minutes is brilliant, setting up the story and displaying the 'power' of the pills, their effect on Eddie, and the transformation of his life. The rest of the movie is like a different film, with the introduction of De Niro's character, and the shift from sci-fi/fantasy and action, into a more dramatic and slower paced, almost 'cat and mouse' thriller. To me it suffered massively because of that, and it's clear that the film is based on a novel. I can imagine the book having a lot more depth and exposition in regard to the set up, as well as a more cogent rationale for characters' actions leading to the ending.

It's no surprise that the television show bases its own narrative more around the action and sci-fi/fantasy elements of the first act of the movie.

Overall the film is very good, but the complete tonal shift does mean the pace becomes almost a crawl (save for a couple of action set-pieces) after that initial 45 minutes.

If it pops up on television, give it a whirl. But it's not a film I'd recommend anyone actively seek out.