Limitless (2011)

People Who Matter:

Bradley Cooper:  Eddie Morra 

Robert De Niro:  Carl Van Loon

Abbie Cornish:  Lindy

Eddie Morra (Cooper) is a writer - kind of.  He has a book contract, but no book.  And honestly, no material to write the book.  Well, he has the material in his head but no motivation or drive to write anything substantial.  His ponytail is very unfortunate, and he is often mistaken for a homeless man.  He's behind on his rent and has no money.  Add his girlfriend breaking up with him into the mix, and this guy's life really blows.  Luckily, his ex-wife's brother is a friendly and completely legit drug dealer, and he offers Eddie a pick-me-up.    

The pill is called NZT and it allows the taker access to 100% of his or her brain.  The effects are almost immediate:  soon, Eddie has talked his landlord into not only forgetting that he hasn't paid his rent, but also sleeping with him.  He writes his book in one night, and has it edited and completed in four days.  He charms everyone he meets because he seems to know everything.  Every memory he has ever had are organized and easily assessable in the newly found portion of his brain.

I love this premise.  It takes a regular rags-to-riches tale and spins it in a new way.  What couldn't someone do if they had NZT?  Eddie chooses to play the stock market game (turning $12,000 into millions in less than two weeks), but you could do so much more than earn (ahem) limitless fame and fortune.  Cure for cancer?  Why not?  New alternative fuel source?  Easy.  If you could take everything you have ever subconsciously seen or heard, and your brain worked on literally four times as many wavelengths as the average schmuck, you could do anything.  

You can't become an overnight millionaire without attracting some attention, and Eddie does.  Mostly in the form of an extremely intimidating Carl Van Loon (De Niro).  Van Loon hires Eddie as a financial consultant during a big business merger.  These two have a very interesting dynamic, constantly in a struggle for power.

Now boasting a four-digit IQ, Eddie is desperate to maintain his current lifestyle.  Unfortunately, NZT isn't the kind of thing you can find at your local pharmacy.  Thus begins some run-ins with some stereotypical Russian gangsters and general shady characters.  Naturally, the demand greatly outnumbers the supply of this miracle pill.  However, not everything is what it seems with NZT.  Generally in life, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Director Neil Burger does an interesting job of showing how Eddie is on NZT with whirlwind visual effects.  I thought they worked really well with the situation.  However, in the theater that I was in, one person did have to leave, saying it was giving her "Blair Witch-style motion sickness."  I found that kind of funny, because seriously, these flashes aren't nearly long enough to give someone motion sickness.

The conclusion is a little predictable, but that's okay.  Bradley Cooper does an excellent job as a struggling writer and then does an excellent job as the man who has everything.  Robert De Niro plays the badass he always plays, but he does it so well.  Abbie Cornish plays Lindy, the girl who dumps Eddie as a loser and then gets back with him when NZT gets his life together.  Limitless is a fun ride, with witty commentary and an interesting story.  Definitely one to check out.


8 out of 10

The Town (2010)

People Who Matter:  

Ben Affleck:  Doug MacRay

Jeremy Renner:  Jem

Rebecca Hall:  Claire Keesey

Jon Hamm:  Agent Adam Frawley

The Town is set in (and named after) the Charlestown area of Boston that is apparently home to more bank robberies and armored car robberies than any other place in America.  At least, that's what the film's opening credits informed me.  Doug (Affleck, who also directed the film) is the leader and brains behind a gang of thieves that steal from the rich to please a florist.  Also in the gang is Jem, a fresh-out-of-prison hothead (played by Jeremy Renner) who is more likely to kill someone when things go south instead of just getting out of there like any normal criminal would.

I have seen enough movies to guess how some of this plays out.  Someone has a change of heart about their illegitimate career path.  A job goes horribly wrong.  Someone is going to fall in love.  The plot isn't exactly new and refreshing, but that can be easily forgiven if the characters are believable and well-played.  Which thankfully, they are.

The robbery that goes horribly wrong takes place early on.  The way these boys from Charlestown do their work is nothing short of amazing.  It is efficient, almost military in the way that these guys get in, get out, and get the job done correctly and quickly.  However, this particular robbery doesn't go quite the way they are used to.  They take a hostage, Claire (Hall) to ensure their getaway.  After they drop her off, they set her up for emotional scars for the rest of her life.

Afterwards, the guys become concerned that she will talk to the FBI about what exactly she saw and heard out of them, so they do what any logical criminals would do... have one of them follow her around and get close to her.  Doug volunteers himself, since he and Claire had some moments during the robbery and hostage situation. 

After that botched job, the FBI is getting closer and closer to catching the gang.  Agent Frawley (played by the always impressive Hamm) knows who they are but doesn't have quite enough evidence to throw them in jail... yet.  He is waiting on a slip-up of some kind on their part.  For this reason, Doug doesn't want to do another job until the heat dies down.  Jem wouldn't be a hot-head if he agreed to lay low.   

From Doug's feelings on the next robbery, you can kind of guess how it's gonna turn out.  We learn that the money drops at the florist isn't just a convenient place to store the cash, but the florist is actually the shot-caller in the whole scenario.  Doug doesn't want to rob banks anymore, but the florist threatens Claire's life if he doesn't do what he is obviously so good at.  

Just for fun, I thought I would mention Blake Lively, who plays a total slut (with a really... interesting accent) and is almost unrecognizable from her Gossip Girl persona.  I'm glad she is branching out and distancing herself from teen TV dramas, but I just couldn't get past seeing her as Serena Van Der Woodsen.  While I'm on a random rant, let me mention the masks and outfits the guys wear while they do their shenanigans.  They are seriously creepy.  I don't know what I would do if someone in a nun outfit was trying to rob me.  I think I would laugh.  But then I would get shot, and there's nothing funny about that.  

Thrown in the mix is a fair mixture of action, romance, excellent settings, and car chases and it plays together in a very real-world way.  A lot of care was taken to ensure that Charlestown became something of a character in and of itself.  Affleck always takes great care when dealing with Boston, something that definitely translates to the big screen.  It is something he cares about, and he made it something I cared about as well.

8 out of 10

Battle: Los Angeles (2011)

People Who Matter:

Aaron Eckhart:  SSGT Nantz

Ramon Rodriguez:  2nd Lt. Martinez

Michael Pena:  Joe Rincon

Staff Sergeant Nantz  (Eckhart) is running on the beach during morning PT.  Younger, stronger Marines are passing him with ease.  He finishes his run and ices his knee.  He thinks (and talks to another Marine) about being old and hurting all the time.  Clearly, the only thing to do is get out of the Marine Corps.  He files the paperwork that morning and gets his superior (I didn't catch his rank) to sign off on it.  They talk about SSGT Nantz's "incident," the one that is referred to throughout the entire movie but never really explained.  Long story short, SSGT Nantz made a decision to go forward in a combat situation the last time he was down range, and almost all the Marines under his command died. 

I hope you enjoy the first twenty minutes, where they are "building up" characters, at least attempting to make them into people that we can relate to.   SSGT Nantz is getting out of the Marine Corps.  Another Marine is planning his wedding.  Another Marine is about to be deployed.  Yeah, I hope those stories enthrall you, because you won't be seeing anything resembling a story for the remaining two hours of this movie.  

 

Later that morning, strange meteors start falling in oceans all over the world, but only around major cities.  It's strange, because none of these meteors were seen by the Hubble until a few hours before... meteors shouldn't act like that.  The command comes down the line for all Marines to suit up to full battle rattle.  They are expecting a fight.  SSGT Nantz is put in another platoon as a platoon sergeant.  This doesn't sit well with his new platoon.  They know his story and think he is a loose canon who gets his Marines killed.  Oh, dear. 

 

strange, strange meteors

Very soon, the aliens make their appearance and start fucking everything up.  They come out of the water, looking all low-budget and stupid, just shooting everybody and everything.  Why the aliens come is never really explained, although it is mentioned that they want our water.  They clearly don't need us pesky humans hanging around, so they plan to kill everyone and destroy everything.  SSGT Nantz and his platoon are given orders to go behind enemy lines in Santa Monica and hold the city.  Similar battles are raging all over the world, and defeat seems imminent.  The aliens are simply too strong, have far superior firepower, and their air support renders our Air Force useless.  

 

The only solution the military can come up with to kill the aliens is to flatten the entire city of Santa Monica.  Therefore, SSGT Nantz has to get his men and his newfound civilians out of there before the bombs drop.  Seeing as how he has the only remaining defense force anywhere around, it should be a fun afternoon. 

 

Blah, blah, blah.  There are lots of close-ups in the firefights, lots of screaming, and lots of explosions.  There is nothing here that hasn't been in dozens of movies before, and they have done it way better.  The characters never say more than three sentences in a row; but if they do, you know they are about to bite the dust.  And don't get attached to any character either (if that was even possible), because they die more often than this movie cuts to a close-up of Eckhart's face. 

 

I don't understand why the Michael Bay effect is still happening.  Yeah, explosions are cool and blowing shit up is fun, but shouldn't there be more to a movie than that?  Is it too much to ask that there be a story that makes sense?  Is it too much to ask that the characters not be a rag-tag, culturally diverse group of stereotypes?  Is it too much to ask that a movie with such a big budget can make aliens that aren't so... cheap looking?  Thankfully, most of the shots of the aliens are wide or the frantic hand-held close shots that don't really show a clear picture of them, but come on.  

 

Now, as much as I disliked this movie, my best friend (a guy) loved it.  Maybe as a female I just can't enjoy the mindless explosions and senseless story.    Maybe I expect too much... wanting a story out of a movie released in 2011.  The nerve I have. 

5 out of 10

Top Ten Movies You (Probably) Haven't Seen

10.  The Goods:  Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009)

Any movie that has the tagline, "I have hair on my balls and I sell cars" is bound to  be a fun ride, and The Goods doesn't disappoint.  There is nothing here that hasn't been done before, but The Goods doesn't try to be anything other than what it is:  a silly, potty-mouthed tale of a group of friends whose only goals in life involve selling cars.  There is a plot to be found in there somewhere, but let's be honest and admit the plot isn't the reason we watch these kinds of movies.  There are plenty of laughs to be had in this one, if you don't mind it being about the furthest thing from politically correct this side of Family Guy. 

9.  Across the Universe (2007)

 

This is easily one of the most visually stunning films out there.  It is absolutely beautiful from start to finish.  Add that with the incredible music, and a solid plot driven by the music, and you've got a great movie.  There's not a lot of dialogue, but honestly there doesn't need to be.  Most of the story is told through the music and although there is dialogue thrown in to connect the scenes, it isn't nearly as engrossing as the musical numbers.  

8.  Into the Wild (2007)

 

This is one of my favorite movies that is based on one of my favorite books.  There isn't a lot to it:  a guy graduates college, abandons his parents' dreams of him becoming a huge and successful lawyer, instead choosing to leave all his possessions (and money) behind while he discovers himself on a cross-country tour.  Of course, this is based on a true story, so some of you might know how it ends when Christopher winds up in Alaska.  The real story here is about the characters he meets along the journey and how he himself changes along the ride.  Great film by Sean Penn.    

7.  Pirate Radio 

 

In 1960s Great Britain, only about 30 minutes of rock-and-roll was allowed to play on the radio every day.  So, ships would dock in international waters that would stream the music the masses wanted to hear 24/7.  There are colorful DJs with pretty gnarly cases of cabin fever and classic rock that seems a character in and of itself.  The music of the era is played constantly (in clips and full songs) that adds to the validity of the film.  If you're a fan of music, you should definitely check this one out.  

6.  Let the Right One In (2008)

This is the Swedish original that spawned the remake Let Me In.  This one is much better.  Not that the remake is bad, per se, but this is just better.   It is a vampire movie, but don't expect sparkles and fun hunting trips.  This is a grim, depressing movie about a vampire girl and her human boyfriend.  It is a love story, but there is no cute montage of them frolicking around while "Pocket Full of Sunshine" plays in the background.  Of course, it is dubbed, a fact that bothers some people more than it should.  If you can get past the lips not matching the words, you are in for a treat.  

5.  Trick 'R Treat  (2007)

At its core, this is another Halloween movie.  However, it sets itself apart from the crowd quite early on, and it does it often.  It follows a pretty diverse group of characters on Halloween, and their stories intertwine in very creative and awesome ways.  The props are done extremely well, and the kids are genuinely creepy.  The whole film has a creepy feel to it.  Overall, it's the best Halloween movie that has come out in the past 20 years.  

4.  Hard Candy (2005)

This is easily one of the most disturbing movies I've seen in a while, not to mention one of the best revenge stories.  It follows a teenage girl who entraps a pedophile photographer and their strange afternoon in his home.  It's definitely not what you would expect.  I can't really say anything else about it without giving too much away.  Just check it out.  

3.  Smokin' Aces (2006)

Basically, there is this guy (Buddy Aces) who has information that can bring down a mob boss, so a $1 million price is put on his head.  This brings out every kind of assassin you can think of in an attempt to bring him down.  There is action from start to finish, with every cliche action scenario being played out.  But the characters are nothing like you've seen before.  They are as varied as their stories.  At the core of it is Aces, who has more emotional problems than you can shake a stick at.  Great movie with a lot of big names in it.  

  

2.  Green Street Hooligans (2005)

 

Elijah Wood isn't exactly seen as a badass, but he totally pulls it off in this one.  Green Street Hooligans is about the brutal world of football firms in England.  Firms are basically gangs that are brought together both by their love of their football team and their love of violence.  Wood's character has been kicked out of Harvard and is about the last person you would expect to join this world, but he does.   There are brutal fights and a pretty good story in this one.  A little something for everybody.  

1.  Boondock Saints (1999)

With all the action in this, its hard to imagine there is any semblance of a plot, but there is, and it's good.  It follows two Irish-Catholic brothers who are as passionate about their faith as they are about their neighborhood.  They want to clean it up, get rid of the mobsters and criminals that are running a muck.  Willem Dafoe is as creepy as you can imagine as the FBI agent that wants to hunt down the brothers.  It's constant action mixed in with a great story, and some of the best cult-classic quotes floating around out there.  But, as with Smokin' Aces, avoid the sequel at all costs.  It is awful.