April 5: Limitless

"A writer discovers a top-secret drug which bestows him with super human abilities."

   Limitless is a really good average film. It has a great plot and just as good acting, as well as tremendous detail in the visuals, but for some reason it just doesn't leave a lasting effect. This is actually the second time I've seen it, and it really feels like it's the first time. Very little from my first viewing lingered in my brain (which ironically, a big part of the film's idea is that you can access all parts of your mind). It's not that the film even leaves a bad taste in your mouth, it's just the fact that it simply leaves no taste. It's actually like the little pill in the film. You take it, you enjoy a little high (in this case 115 minutes), then you return to normal. 

Unlike heroine. It's real bad, mmkay?

   The premise is cool. Eddie (Bradley Cooper) finds himself in possession of a clear little pill called NZT. This pill lets him tap into every corner of his brain and completely focus on anything he wants. He can do incredible math, speak new languages, and even recall old Bruce Lee movies he saw on TV to learn how to fight. A lot of it is similar to The Matrix, where Neo could download anything he wanted to know into his mind. In Limitless, Eddie simply needs to hear or see something to learn it. Of course, with every good thing there is consequences, and Eddie finds himself hitting lows and becoming addicted. Cooper does a fine job in the role and he dances on the border of genius and douche-bag. You can't tell if Eddie deserves the kind of power he's discovered and you can't help but be jealous of what he's tapped into. Oh, and Robert De Niro is in the film, but he's just around for his big name. 

You won't be jealous of the hangover he gets. *badum tss*

   Overall, even though it's nothing memorable, I'd recommend Limitless. Directed by Neil Burger (The Illusionist), Limitless is a fine example of a film with an attention to detail. Every time the drug is used, the camera, just like the user, gains a heightened sense of things, and focuses in on every detail. The style is terrific and adds so much to the film. The color and effects are kind of like a Michael Bay movie without the explosions, and thus, Limitless is pretty to look at. Even though it's good to look at, it also has a solid script. The only complaint is that Limitless doesn't leave you wanting more, it just simply is what it is. 

The Good:

great story that's very original and well executed

The Bad:

having that story not linger in your mind like it should

The Ugly:

wondering what you could do if you had the kind of pill in the film

Overall: 7.0/10

Best Quote:

Eddie: I don't have delusions of grandeur, I have an actual recipe for grandeur.

Trailer: