Limitless Review
I have a confession to make, I have a major man-crush on Bradley Cooper. Ever since the hangover came out I have been fascinated with his acting, but he has not seemed to top this film in terms of performance, even earning a golden raspberry for Sandra Bullock's terrible romantic comedy All About Steve. So i approached Limitless with trepidation and a real hope that Bradley Cooper could establish himself as a brilliant leading actor, especially with the announcement of his role as Lucifer in the upcoming Paradise Lost film adaption.
Now onto the film itself; Limitless is helmed by Neil Burger whose only successful film pre-Limitless has been The Illusionist which undersold through the misfortune of being released at a similar point to the superior The Prestige. While Burger seems to be lacking experience as a director he has certainly strived to establish an arty edge to a movie that would be completely different without it.
The film follows Bradley Cooper as a struggling writer who is introduced to a newly developed drug that allows him to access more of his brain thus retaining information and having a stronger ability to access it. He becomes an expert in business and turns over large profits but the after effects of the drug and dodgy characters leading to a twisting plot that whilst on the surface may feel hard to understand, actually makes for an enjoyable to watch and relatively easy to follow film.
Limitless has enough suspense to be a thriller, a few scenes of very well done action and also gives a wider message regarding the excessive pharmaceutical industry's takeover of Americans daily lives. There are a number of wider messages throughout the film, the first posed being would you take this drug yourself? From here deeper questions are explored such as do drugs create a better version of a person or does losing these bad characteristics create another personality entirely. Although these serious topics are posed they seem to be breezed over. This film at heart is a fast-paced satisfying thriller with great performances from Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro. If you are looking for a dark brooding film this may not be for you, but if you enjoy your action snappy, your acting above par and your film to be engrossing whilst not being overly preachy then this is the film for you.
I award it 8 out of 10!
Now onto the film itself; Limitless is helmed by Neil Burger whose only successful film pre-Limitless has been The Illusionist which undersold through the misfortune of being released at a similar point to the superior The Prestige. While Burger seems to be lacking experience as a director he has certainly strived to establish an arty edge to a movie that would be completely different without it.
The film follows Bradley Cooper as a struggling writer who is introduced to a newly developed drug that allows him to access more of his brain thus retaining information and having a stronger ability to access it. He becomes an expert in business and turns over large profits but the after effects of the drug and dodgy characters leading to a twisting plot that whilst on the surface may feel hard to understand, actually makes for an enjoyable to watch and relatively easy to follow film.
Limitless has enough suspense to be a thriller, a few scenes of very well done action and also gives a wider message regarding the excessive pharmaceutical industry's takeover of Americans daily lives. There are a number of wider messages throughout the film, the first posed being would you take this drug yourself? From here deeper questions are explored such as do drugs create a better version of a person or does losing these bad characteristics create another personality entirely. Although these serious topics are posed they seem to be breezed over. This film at heart is a fast-paced satisfying thriller with great performances from Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro. If you are looking for a dark brooding film this may not be for you, but if you enjoy your action snappy, your acting above par and your film to be engrossing whilst not being overly preachy then this is the film for you.
I award it 8 out of 10!