Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Limitless’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

There comes a point in all of our lives where we desire to be different or better in some way. We hope that perhaps our fortunes will change and all the negativity in our life will go away. We hope that all of our hard work will pay off at some point, or we even hope that we can change who we are at a deeper level. 

Or perhaps we dream of having it all. Of reaching the point where we have altered our lives both mentally and physically to the point to where we can achieve anything and I would venture to say that particular state of mind is perhaps the most common thread of thought for so many people. Because the possibility of having infinite knowledge that would allow us to handle anything that comes our way and manipulate the world to our whims is intoxicating to say the least. It would make life, exactly like the title of today's review, Limitless.  

Eddie Morra is a man and a writer without direction. He is trying his best. He has managed to land a book contract, but despite having such an incredible honor, he can find no words to write. His life consists daily of daydreaming, drinking and pretending that he can be something more in life. That is until his ex-brother-in-law, a drug dealer, bestows upon Eddie a gift. A drug that manages to ramp up his I.Q. and give him incredible focus. But the death of his brother/dealer signals the fact that this drug is dangerous business, but that won't stop Eddie from getting his hands on more and enjoying the freedom the drug brings.  

---

This is one of those motion pictures that completely takes you by surprise. Simply because, there is little in Limitless that resembles a traditional fish out of water story, and that's courtesy of a brilliant script and an equally brilliant performance by Bradley Cooper. There are twists and turns that may at first seem predictable but they quickly turn you and the story in a different direction...with ugly results.

The trick to this film, is that it is incredibly dark. It is filled with angry and malicious characters who quite frankly...all have an agenda. Whether it be power, money, or obtaining more of the powerful drug, there isn't a moment where someone is trying to get something from someone and that's what makes Limitless so damn intriguing. It is an in-depth character study of well... the fact that life is what it is. Despite the fact that Eddie ends up with one of the highest I.Q.'s in the history of man, his life is no easier.
 
The challenges are wild and crazy in many respects yes, but there are challenges and dangers there regardless, and questionable actions performed...just like the rest of us perform on a regular basis. That's the beauty of Limitless, that while there may come a day when we stumble on the answers to life, such a discovery doesn't change the nature of the world. While Eddie Morra may get a break in the last few minutes of the film and seem to be on the right track to something wonderful, the moments before the credits roll demonstrate, it will still never be an easy road, for Eddie... or any of us. 

---