Definitely better than the tag-line

Rating: 8/10 (7 April 2011)

I think a lot of the reviews here (both good and bad) have this film pretty well depicted. I had a lot of problems with the shortcuts the plot takes and the fact that the film seemed more interested in being a thriller full of thriller clichés, than a thought-provoking film about mind expansion (see PhantomAgony's post on all the plot problems). But despite not reaching it's full potential to be a smarter film, the flaws in the storyline (and the contrived sub-plot), "Limitless" still held my attention very well. I would actually put this movie in with films like "Groundhog Day" and "Phenomenom" which are in the better-than-they-had-any-right-to-be category.
The aspect of the film I want to focus on though in this review is the ending, and the reason is pretty simple: Most movies about medicine or science tend to show the negative aspects of the science they are depicting and it's writer/producer implied affect(s) on humanity (take your pick of any science fiction film - "Moon", "Blade Runner", "Brave New World"... The theme is always "Here's a new concept imagined by scientists that could happen or apply very soon, and here's why it's bad for humanity"). And for the majority of "Limitless", this broken record seems as if it's going to skip it's way to the same conclusion. But it doesn't. Instead, at the end of the film, we see the character of Eddy trying to use his newfound powers for the good of humanity (a la "Phenomenom" rather than the scientific stereotypes Mike Myers might mock in the Austin Powers series). And this turn, in my opinion, puts "Limitless" in the company of a very small group of "positive existential" films. Generally those two words put together would seem like an oxymoron, but they're not. And I was very glad to see the film turn the negativity it creates around the fictional drug, into somewhat of a dark but happy ending. This is a very rare feat in today's cinema. In fact, I can only think of a handful of films that leave this kind of impression ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", the soul-punching "Ponette", and arguably "Good Will Hunting" and "Contact").
Now overall, I wouldn't put this film in a league with those first three films, but that message of "positive scientific potential" as opposed to "apocalyptic doom because of science" was a breath of fresh air to me. I would love to see more stories like this take hold in our collective imaginations over the predictable negative sci-fi thrillers that are churned out in a limitless supply by Hollywood.
I have to admit, I was expecting a purely predictably bland thriller copy--and there's some of that. But I was more than pleasantly surprised by the movie overall. Ultimately the plot line will annoy, but the message, the direction and the performances are worthy of a recommended viewing.