Review of Limitless (2011) by Cotts1988 — 25 Apr 2011

This is an entertaining film, provided that initial expectations of the viewer are not too high. The storyline is relatively predictable, and fails to touch on many of the darker aspects of drug addiction (which is something that this film almost seems destined for). Bradley Cooper is immensely watchable and proves that he is not just a comedy actor, delivering a good performance.

There are a few instances, most notably the opening credits, where a strange camera technique is used to move down a street in a bizarre, flowing motion. This is aimed to show the effect of the drug on the user, yet unfortunately left me feeling sick and dizzy, with the result being that I could not focus on these sections of the film. I should also state that I do not suffer from any illness such as motion sickness that would cause this to occur, so I assume others may be likely to feel the same way when watching these scenes, which can only be described as a horrible design choice.

Despite this, the film is perfect viewing for a relaxed viewer. The dialogue is often snappy, and the storyline is entertaining. Unfortunately Limitless feels like a missed opportunity, as with more work it could have been a very good film.