Limitless (7/19/2011)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving a drug, violence including disturbing images, sexuality and language.

Starring Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish and Robert De Niro

Directed by Neil Burger (The Illusionist)

The movie was great, the lessons learned…not so much.

Limitless is an action-thriller about an out-of-work writer, Eddie Morra (Cooper), who takes an experimental drug that allows him to use 100% of his mind. The new drug is called NZT and gives him laser focus and more confidence than any man alive. Now on an NZT-fueled odyssey, everything Eddie has ever read, heard or seen is instantly organized and available to him. As the former nobody rises to the top of the financial world, he draws the attention of business mogul Carl Van Loon (De Niro), who sees this enhanced version of Eddie as the tool to make billions. But brutal side effects jeopardize not only his rise to fame but his life.

Let’s jump right in and talk about the movie…and then we’ll talk about the message.

First the film, honestly I thought it was really well done. From a fresh take on the “what if” question to the amazing shots and color schemes throughout the movie…I loved it. There are two main color schemes: the one is dull and gray while Eddie is “lame Eddie” and the other is full, bright colors when he is “enhanced Eddie.” There are other scenes with multiple Eddies to show how much faster he is processing information and working. All very clever tricks that make the film more enjoyable.

The cast is headed by Bradley Cooper, who has been in one hit after another since 2009’s The Hangover (o.k. let’s forget about All About Steve). And he is fantastic as both the loser and the winner in this one. Robert De Niro shows up in a smaller role…but he’s great. I like him in films like Meet the Parents…but I love him in roles where you are…well scared to death of him. This was definitely more of a scary role.

Neil Burger may not have the longest resume in Hollywood but I loved his film The Illusionist. He’s got some serious talent and I’m looking forward to his next film.

Finally, I loved how the story unfolded. I never really knew what was going to happen next…mostly because the pace is set to “break neck” speed, but also because there were more than a few twists and turns that gave me that “oh no” feeling.

So the special effects, the cast, the director and the basic premises were all Theater Worthy…but the story was less than admirable.

SPOILER ALERT: Here’s what I’m talking about. Eddie is given a pill that allows him to utilize 100% of his brain and his options are limitless. Unfortunately, Eddie has one agenda…himself. Every decision, every move, and every option is about Eddie. I kept waiting for the redemption moment, where Eddie realizes how selfish he’s been and changes the lives of the people around him. That never happens. In fact the films end with him in a face-to-face confrontation with Van Loon where he brags that there is no scenario where he loses. He says, “I see every scenario, I see 50 scenarios, that’s what it does Carl – it puts me 50 moves ahead of you.”

That was a very disappointing ending…and because of that, I’m giving it a “Rental.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
The entire film is about taking drugs. Although they continue to stress they are not illegal drugs, they also joke that they are not FDA approved. There are several scenes where Eddie is seen seducing women. We see him kissing and quick clips of him having sex with them. We don’t see a whole lot, but we see enough. There are also several scenes of violence where Eddie is either getting beat up or beating up other guys.

Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):

Q: What’s the message/theme of this movie?
A: As I said in the review, Eddie takes pills that give him limitless abilities and power. So start out asking your child/student what would they do if they were smarter, faster, better, etc. than everyone else in the room.

Q: How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
A: The truth is this scenario has played itself out once before. Have your child read the following passage:

1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. – John 13:1-5

Highlight for them the following phrase: Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything. Ask them what they think that verse means? (Jesus was not only the most powerful person in the room, he was the most powerful person on the planet.)

Follow up by asking them, “So in the that moment when all authority, all power was given to Jesus …when He was not only the most powerful person in the room, he was the most powerful person on the planet, what did he do?

In the movie, Eddie used his new power to fulfill every selfish desire. In the Bible Jesus used His power to serve His disciples.

Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
A: So if you were given a pill that made you the most powerful person in the room, what would you do? How would you use your powers?

Realistically that’s probably never going to happen. But chances are good that at some point you will be the most powerful person in the room. Maybe it will be with your younger siblings or relatives. Maybe it will be with underclassman, maybe it will be with the youth group. How will you respond in that moment? Name a couple of ways you could serve those around you…and not be selfish.