Obsequiousmelon feels Limitless.

Name of the Film:  Limitless

Starring:  Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Abbie Cornish, Anna Friel.

A wonder drug that opens up your mind to all of it’s possibilities.  A promise of the perfect you, the person you want to be and everything that comes with that.  Who wouldn’t take a gamble on that?  I would.

That is the intriguing concept that is proposed by Limitless.  Bradley cooper plays Eddie Morra a washed out looser who is stuck in perennial writers block.  Until, that is, he meets an old friend who happens to have a way to help him.  He is given the chance to excel, all he has to do is take the clear little pill.

The comments on drug use and drug dependance are clear and heavy handed from the beginning.  The story is well worn and fairly obvious, something that could have become leaden and preachy.  But the film is good and that is primarily due to the talent involved.  Bradley Cooper is charismatic and charming as ever and De Niro is back to form with a role that at times exudes menace from every pore.

Everything about this film is effective and well done but it doesn’t quite fly for me simply because I feel we have all been here before.  Hollywood has a simple morality, drugs are bad ad that is the end of it.  The problem is that growing up in this day and age that message simply doesn’t ring true for a lot of people.  Clearly dependance on drugs is a bad thing and I’m not advocating illegal drug use but still the drum beating out the moral message in Limitless feels overbearing to me.

The film plays out as you would expect with a gradual descent into addiction and desperation where the drug and it’s consequences consume  both Eddie and those around him.

That is, until half way through.

Suddenly the film changes... I won’t ruin the interesting second half but once Eddie hits rock bottom what feels like a predictable finale developing shifts a gear and presents a much more intriguing take on the whole living with drugs debate.

I was prepared to take this film apart by condemning its tired and cliched approach.  But that second half surprised me and left me wanting more (sequels are hinted at very strongly.)  The cliched ideas presented in the first half of the film make the pay offs more satisfying and although I don’t think it completely recovers from it’s opening act, it is a good film and I would recommend it strongly, even though it feels like a solid start to a larger trilogy.

This is a film that will reward repeat viewings and I suspect will inspire some heated debate amongst it’s fans and detractors.

Ultimately it has flaws but it is definitely worth your time.  It is at least mature enough to understand it's topic and not just pander to conceived wisdom.  In that regard it doesn't patronize it's audience and that is to be commended as the film never feels that it has to resolve everything with a neat little bow.  The ending is an open one and the film, as a whole, is better for it.  


  Go and see Limitless, switch your brain off and enjoy a fun thriller (ish) or go in and question drug culture and it's larger consequences, either way you will be entertained for a couple of hours!

Did I enjoy the film?  Yes but I wasn’t a fan 45 minutes in!

Would I recommend it to my friends?   Yes but solely based on that refreshing second half.

Will I buy it on DVD/Blu Ray?  Probably after it has been out a while and is a little cheaper.

If it was a mate would I let it date my Sister?  Hmmm that is a tricky one... I would need to see it again before I made a firm decision.