Director Neil Burger (2006’s “The Illusionist”) takes aim at trying to create a Chuck Palahniuk-like story with his latest film, “Limitless.” Burger seems to have all the right ingredients to do so, minus the dark tone that usually accompanies Palahniuk’s stories.
There’s a good amount of humor, fast-paced visuals and a charming, if somewhat loathsome, character. Bradley Cooper (“The Hangover”) is the perfect choice for this film. Is this supposed to be a wild ride of a film? Yes, and it is for a good amount of time. “Limitless” is an exciting and unique concept that, unfortunately, gets hampered down by one action cliche after another. And suspending disbelief can only go so far before it becomes too much.
Cooper plays Eddie Morra, an unemployed, depressed writer who is having trouble fulfilling his book contract. He has the idea, but he can’t seem to find the words to develop a good story. He’s living in a messy apartment by himself. He’s about to get evicted because he’s not making rent. His girlfriend just broke up with him. Life practically sucks for Eddie right now.
One day, Eddie runs into his ex-brother in law, Vernon (Johnny Whitworth), who gives him this little clear pill called NZT. This pill opens Eddie’s mind and now he is able to work using 100% of his brain, instead of the 10-20% everyone else is only able to use. Not only is he able to finish his novel, but he is also able to become fluent in several different languages, understand math, earn some motivation to tidy his place up, get a haircut and make all the lovely ladies of New York swoon from his big brain and good looks. Who wouldn’t want to be this guy right now?
His newly discovered math skills make him insanely rich and he decides to drop the writing and pick up the Wall Street trading skills. He gets picked up by Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro), a big, banking tycoon who wants Eddie to work for him. Again, things just seem to be going great for the once struggling writer turned rich guy.
But, as always, there are consequences to something that just seems too good to be true. Everything is going to Eddie’s head and he becomes a complete narcissist. That’s not the only problem. He is now being harassed by some loan shark named Gennady (Andrew Howard) who is also hooked on NZT and some other unknown guy begins following him for a reason unknown to Eddie. Everything in life that he thought was going up is now looking like it will come crashing down.
There are some great performances in “Limitless.” Cooper is incredibly charismatic and likable as Eddie, even though his character does become extremely full of himself. He fits the role well. There are some great one-liners from his voice-over narration and his delivery is quick-witted and on cue as well. De Niro is surprisingly good after starring in an endless amount of bad films. Abbie Cornish, who is Eddie’s on again/off again girlfriend, Lindy, is a welcoming pleasure even though she is hardly in the film. It’s just disappointing these performances are smarter than the film’s script.
Screenwriter Leslie Dixon, who based the script on the Alan Glynn novel, “The Dark Fields,” sets up an intriguing outline of a story. But when certain sub plots are introduced, including a murder, the script seems to introduce them and build on them, but never gives a resolution.
Some of the visual tricks by Burger are a little too elongated – especially the opening credits – and it becomes dizzying and a bit nauseating. He wants to create this trippy, hypnotic piece by enforcing some extreme zooms through New York. It works for a while, but then there’s this feeling of wondering when the trick is going to end. Burger also repeats this zoom at least one or two other times throughout the film and it becomes more of a gimmick than a unique skill.
One trick that actually works is having Eddie walk from one part of the town to another in a matter of seconds. Even though he doesn’t know how he got to a certain spot so fast, there’s a definite “What the heck just happened?” reaction not only seen in Eddie’s face, but felt in the audience’s brain. Burger keeps the viewer enticed in the story’s web and is able to keep the viewer intrigued for a while. But, just like any drug, the effects start to fade away. In this case, “Limitless” delves into a chase flick and loses its original ground. The ending, which I will not reveal, is way too far-fetched even for a film that is a bit over the top to begin with. It’s a shame since it has so much potential at the beginning into becoming a smart thriller.
Opens March 18 (today) at Cinemark 14 in Chico, Paradise Cinema 7 in Paradise and Feather River Cinemas in Oroville.
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