Limitless [Blu-ray]

Aimless writer takes magic pill, brain fires up completely and life is set, well... until you forget to pay your Russian loan shark.I like this movie- watched it several times. It's an escapist fantasy, no doubt: swallow a truly magic pill and problems are solved with sheer previously untapped brain power. And what does our character seek with all that power? Money, sex, more power. It's a fun little ride to watch, though there are a few things to ignore less they completely spoil the ride or even ruin the movie experience.For example, he forgets to pay his loan shark. Of course, as an author you need some kind of device to keep the action moving but 'forgetfulness' after you've established that the protagonist doesn't only 'not forget' anything, he can remember the most obscure details that seemed barely glanced in passing. The loan shark is perfectly brutal and believable. As long as you tell yourself, 'even someone with a four digit IQ can forget the details in a haze of it all', you'll be alright.Second, he's smart but he doesn't sound like it. His language is not too far removed from a common street hustler and sometimes it's really difficult to get past. Intelligent people use the right words with efficiency and economy- but I don't have a four digit IQ (whatever that means) so I have to accept that 'bling' and other less descriptive words just haven't reached my puny brain.Third, his career choice: politics. I'm a relatively liberal person but I have a hard time seeing politics as the best way to solve the world's problems, if that's where the protagonist was heading (again, it could be part of his larger plan my brain could never understand). We'll assume he's wealthy, we know he's smart, but at the end of the day anyone can tell you those with absurd wealth (e.g. Gates, Musk, Walton, etc.) have the power to make the large changes in the world- not the president. It was a let down.Fourth, his mockery of art. He learns foreign languages in no time, piano in four days, etc. I'm guessing because those are the 'soft' mental areas. In all honesty, it's strange to claim one might 'learn piano' in four days, because it's a creative endeavor and creation/expression never really stops. The same goes with foreign languages- one might gain some fluency but economic and beautiful expression... truly subjective and far from measurable. Somehow I don't think a Berlitz course, no matter how advanced, will make you the Goethe of Deutch or the Mark Twain of English- know what I mean?Fifth, I didn't like the female lead (not that she led much, women were kind of tokenized in this). Perhaps it was her blonde hair. I mean, I'm happy the two ended up back together, but still, she just didn't appeal to me. Hey Hollywood- why don't you screen actresses past me first so that I can always be happy with the actors and actresses?Heheheheh.OK, onto the good stuff.I was happy he outsmarted DeNiro's character. DeNiro plays a self-absorbed 'power-broker' (literally and figuratively) well and it's nice to see his comeuppance in the form of Bradley Cooper tenderly diagnosing his heart problem the way Spock tenderly knocks people out with the Vulcan death grip.I was happy the other NZT guy's bodygaurd didn't kill Cooper's character- especially after his girlfriend slashed his face with an ice skating shoe. I guess he figured a big scar shows character and all's forgiven or something or other.I liked that Cooper slept with his landlord's wife. She was really uptight about law school and needed to sleep it off.I liked the way Cooper handled those thugs in the NY Subway- like when he grabbed into that guy's mouth; I've never thought of that. I mean, I don't get into subway fights all the time, nor do I watch martial arts shows so it probably wouldn't have come to me, but really, thumbs in the mouth... that had to terrify that big guy- Cooper deserved to win it.I liked that he dove off a cliff without killing himself. It happened early on so that would have made a very short movie.I liked that he drove someone else's Maserati around the island like a maniac. That's what they get for letting someone else drive their Maserati and that's what the island gets for letting Maserati's on it rather than forcing everyone to take a taxi or walk. Seriously, he's practically terrorizing that island. The guy who owns that car and the fancy house is totally going to an island prison cell. I'm guessing the car belongs to a dad who's really rich and his son is crazy spoiled so the son's always getting him in trouble like that, but this time the son's probably going to get in very hot water. There's a separate movie/spinoff waiting to happen (just send the actresses to me first for pre-screening so we don't end up with that blonde).I liked Bradley Cooper's suit(s).I liked that the brother in law got shot in the head. He wasn't doing anyone any good, though he did give Cooper the pill for free so perhaps there was hope but I didn't have the patience to find out.I liked that the Russian loan shark discovered Google. If he had lived, it could have really helped him find stuff.I liked that Cooper didn't go to jail (again) for the Russian guy's killing the neighbors, shooting up the place and leaving a bloody mess. I mean, was it really his fault?I liked that Cooper finished the book fast (a lot of weight off his shoulder right there).I liked that he was able to make the Chinese waiter laugh. Shows he has a versatile sense of humor in different languages.That's about it.

Bradley Cooper stars in this tale of a pill that grants limitless access to 100% of your brain. The way the story unfolds and how he goes from nobody to a somebody is nicely laid out. It's not an average fairy-tale. Facing numerous obstacles to becoming completely limitless kept my eye glued to the screen. Cooper is one of my favorite stars and he does not let us down with this flick. Great movie, grab some popcorn and soda!

...I fell asleep. By the time I remembered, the rental deadline had passed. Can you tell me Amazon, why is almost every movie i want to see, now a "rent or buy" option? Jeez, Louise!

I got what I wanted.. very pleased.

This film deals with a subject that hasn't often been addressed in films. What if there was a drug that could enhance your intelligence and give you superior ability? Would it be worthwhile to take it? What would be the consequences to your livelihood, your relationships, your personality, your character?All of these issues are explored by the film and in a very realistic way. The character development, in Eddie's case, is excellent. Bradley Cooper(Eddie) does an outstanding job of going from a frumpy, down-and-out, aspiriring writer to a slick and competent human being. Then the crash he experiences when he goes through withdrawal from the drug is quite realistic. I would also say that the script is excellent. I like the way it explores some of the more personal aspects of psychoactive drug use, like "Am I really ME when I'm on the drug or am I someone else?". The various scenarios (ie. Eddie and his girlfriend, Eddie and a Russian loan shark, Eddie in a day trading firm, Eddie and the corporate big wigs) all come across quite credibly and smoothly. You know that this is the way that people act and talk.The film does have some plot holes, like1) The police certainly would have searched Eddie's person and found the money and the stash of pills when they came to the apartment. That probably would have ended the story right there.2) It's doubtful that someone would have framed Eddie for murder just so that they could get the pills. Why would they think that it would work?3) It's not likely that a person as smart as Eddie would not have paid back the loan shark, knowing that his life depended on it.4) Why would Eddie even bother going to a loan shark at all? With his enhanced abilities he could have made millions without that kind of help.These are just a few holes in the story but I'm sure there are others.What concerns me more is how the medication affected Eddie. I'm concerned that he wasn't more upset about the murdered woman and the role (even unknowingly) he might have played in it. I'm concerned that he didn't have more compassion for Hank Atwood and didn't try to save his life. I'm concerned that while vacationing in the Carribean, he comes up with a "vision" for his life, but his "vision" basically involves making millions in day trading. I'm wondering if this is actually part the cautionary tale and that one of the effects of enhanced ability is a lack of concern for others and for the betterment of society. Does enhanced ability just turn a self-absorbed person into a more successful and adaptable self-absorbed person? What are the consequences of that? Maybe that gives some credence to him not paying the loan shark. Perhaps he was so intoxicated with himself and his new abilities that he neglected to pay.What makes this subject interesting is that a certain class of this type of drug already exists. They're called amphetamines. Back in the early twentieth century when amphetamines were first introduced they were considered the wonder drugs of the century. People who struggled with fatigue, depression, timidity and poor self image took these drugs and experienced an immediate turn-a-round. They became more productive and successful at work. They were able to work longer hours without fatigue. They became more socially engaging and self-assured. Their family lives became more stable. But there was a price. We eventually discovered that these drugs were highly addictive and that users had to keep upping the dose to get the desired effect. We also discovered that if too much were taken it could cause psychosis. The wonder drugs turned out to be not so wonderful.I suspect this is the case with most if not all performance enhancing drugs. Sooner or later, there's going to be a reckoning to pay. That's why I really didn't like the ending of the film. Eddie's lab perfects the pill to such a degree that he doesn't have to take it any more. The enhancing effects of the drug are now permanent and his life is now happy ever after. Oh please! Wouldn't it be better to have him come down off the meds and learn to cope with his natural imperfections? I don't know. I don't know what the ending should be, but I don't think it should be "NZT solved all of my problems".Unless, of course, there's going to be a Limitless 2. Hmm.......

I loved this movie. A must-watch!

Bradley Cooper rarely disappoints

Great movie

Excellent produit 👍

Bislang lief es für Eddie (Bradley Cooper) nicht so gut: Zwar ist er Schriftsteller mit Vertrag für eine Buchveröffentlichung, er bekommt jedoch keine einzige Seite zustande - und der Abgabetermin rückt näher. Obendrein hat ihn seine Freundin Lindy (Abbie Cornish) verlassen. Mehr oder weniger durch Zufall bekommt Eddie von seinem Ex-Schwager Vernon (Johnny Whitworth) eine ganz neue Droge geschenkt: Die Pille namens NZT-48 macht nicht etwa high, sondern kurbelt das Gehirn zu Höchstleistungen an. Plötzlich sieht Eddie alles klarer, er versteht alles und erinnert sich an Dinge, die er eigentlich längst vergessen hatte. Doch die Wirkung der Pille lässt innerhalb eines Tages nach. Eddie ist klar, dass er mehr von NTZ-48 braucht - was neben Erfolg unweigerlich zu Problemen führt.Darin geht's in Ohne Limit (Originaltitel: Limitless), dem Thriller von Neil Burger (Regie) und Leslie Dixon (Drehbuch) aus dem Jahr 2011. Die Vorlage lieferte der Roman The Dark Fields von Alan Glynn. Mir gefällt die Idee für die Story, diese beginnt auch recht vielversprechend. Doch irgendwo in der Mitte hat mich der Film verloren. Ab dort gibt es zu viele erzwungen wirkende Wendungen, die einzelnen Stränge driften irgendwie auseinander. Da kann auch Robert De Niro, einer meiner Lieblingsschauspieler, nur bedingt etwas retten. Bitte nicht falsch verstehen: Ohne Limit ist sicherlich kein schlechter Film. Allerdings hatte ich mir nach dem starken Anfang mehr davon versprochen. Bei der Blu-ray von Concorde geht das Bild in Ordnung, ein paar Extras wurden spendiert.

Buena película

"Ende gut, alles gut". Das Sprichwort passt auf "Ohne Limit" nicht ganz, denn im Umkehrschluss würde es bedeuten, dass ohne gutes Ende auch der ganze Rest keine Qualität besitzt. Und das kann man über diesen einfach großartigen Film nun in keinster Weise behaupten. Er kränkelt ein wenig an seinem Ende, das wohl auf jeden Zuschauer uninspiriert wirken muss, der zuvor einen ganzen Film lang mit inspirierten, innovativen Ideen bestens entertaint wurde. Das Finale hat den Namen nicht wirklich verdient und Regie/Drehbuch waren schlecht beraten, diesem kleinen Meisterwerk von Movie diese Schwäche zuzulassen, denn letztlich spricht alles nur noch über diesen unnötigen Lapsus, was schade aber berechtigt ist.Also, den in jeder Weise unbefriedigenden Schlusspunkt außen vor gelassen, erlebt man mit "Ohne Limit" eine nur als grandios zu beschreibende Geschichte in einzigartigen Bildern. Anfangs des Films musste ich schmunzeln, denn die Figur des in den Tag hinein lebenden Protagonisten und die psychedelischen Bilder seiner "Traumwelt" erinnerten ungewollt an den den "Dude" Jeffrey Lebowski und dessen abstrakte Träumereien bzw. schrägen Erlebnisse. Doch die Dinge entwickeln sich bei Eddie Morra anders, vor allem tougher. Einmal angefixt von den Wunderpillen des Ex-Schwagers wird aus dem Low-IQ-Loser plötzlich ein Mastermind, dessen Geistesleistungen jeden Hochbegabten daneben wie einen Zwerg aussehen lassen. Die Folgen sind schneller beruflicher Aufstieg, rasant zunehmender Wohlstand und viele viele neue Freunde. Klar ist jedoch auch, dass der drogengestützte Höhenflug Morra's schnell Interessierte und Begehrende auf den Plan ruft, die gerne denselben Karriereweg einschlagen möchten, wobei ihnen jedes Mittel(chen) recht ist. Zu beklagen ist der junge Wunderknabe dafür aber nicht, hat er die bösen kriminellen Geister doch selbst gerufen, als sie seinem Weiterkommen nützlich waren. Nun kleben sie ihm auf den Fersen und werden zunehmend verlangender, gewalttätiger.Das bleibt nicht der einzige Beleg dafür, dass jede Pille ihre zwei Seiten hat. Ebenso rasch, wie die schöne heile Welt entsteht, entstehen auch Gefahrenquellen, die sie gefährden. Eine davon sind die letalen Folgen, welche der Konsum der nicht zugelassenen Pillen hat bzw. der Entzug davon. Eine weitere Front tut sich auf, als Ex-Nobody Eddie im Drogen-High eine Bettbekanntschaft ermordet zu haben scheint - bewiesen wird es zwar nie, aber der Verdacht wird im Film (leider) auch nie ausgeräumt. Wirklich zu stören scheint es das Neu-Genie aber auch nicht, die Karriere steht im Vordergrund und Pillchen für Pillchen mausert sich der ehemalige Sozialfall zum gefeierten Senator; der weitere Weg ins Oval Office scheint nur noch Formsache, solange die Pillen reichen. Und da kommt sein beruflicher Mentor aus der Wirtschaft ins Spiel, dessen wahre Hilfs-Motivation erst gegen Filmende herauskommt und nicht ganz so nobel ist, wie vom Schützling vielleicht angenommen. Und noch eine dritte Seite hat ihre ganz eigenen Interessen an Eddie und dem Wow-Effekt seiner Erfolgsdroge. Wie sich herausstellt, gab es noch einen zweiten Wunderknaben in der Stadt, ebenfalls durch dieselben Pillen beruflich von Null auf Hundert gestiegen und nun offenbar nicht begeistert davon, Konkurrenz bekommen zu haben. Druck von allen Seiten also, die letalen Folgen des Entzugs vor Augen, einer Mordanklage ausgesetzt, von diversen Seiten bedroht und dann werden auch noch die Pillen knapp...Beste Voraussetzungen für ein Filmende mit einer überraschenden Wendung, einer moralischen Aussage, einem Clou. Und dann kommt an der Stelle eben leider nur etwas Laues, bei dem man sich zurecht fragt, ob es das jetzt schon war oder noch was kommt.Aber sei's drum, der Film ist auch so großes Kino in tollen Bildern, mit klasse Schauspielern, stimmigem Soundtrack und einer sehr interessanten Geschichte um einen modernen verbotenen Apfel. Hat man wirklich verpasst, wenn man ihn nicht gesehen hat.

Bonne qualité de Blu-ray VF OK et bon thriller pas si fiction que ça