Assignment

Unit 26: Film Studies

Analysing Movie Limitless

Gopinat Boratynski

Synopsis“Limitless” is an action-thriller movie which was released in 2011 and directed by Neil Burger. The film is starred by Bradley Cooper as Edward “Eddie” Morra, a writer who lives in New York City. He had been dumped by his girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish), who supported him financially, because he was not able to fulfil the deadline of his writing. He was barely surviving. He realizes that he has no future and no hope to escape from this situation. Then, something happened when he met his ex-brother-in-law Vernon Gant (Johny Whitworth) in street who introduces Morra to NZT, a steroid pill that makes him become more focus and allow him to remember everything he has learned. By using NZT, he is able to use all of his brain ability to become the unlimited version of himself. After finishing his writing, he joins the top of financial world, stock trade market, from nothing. It draws the attention of business man Carl Von Loon (Robert De Niro). Von Loon sees that ability of Morra can make him a billionaire. Soon, Morra become Van Loon’s advisor in the stock market trade.

However, Morra’s dependences to NZT cannot be vanished. He even is being addicted to this pill. It is because when he does not use this pill, he becomes ordinary man and can not use his brain amazingly. Therefore, Morra finds the way to make his own stock of NZT drug.

Surprisingly, Morra finds the other business tycoons in New York also use NZT to gain their success. It is shown in the scene where Morra and Van Loon want to merge with Hank Atwood. (Hans Bekins). Atwood is user of NZT pill too. He asks a man to stole NZT pill from Morra because he starts to enter coma. His coma is caused by discontinuation in using NZT Pill. Unfortunately, Atwood did not make it and he died. Soon, the Atwood company falls in to Van Loon’s hands. Van Loon then, paid Morra 40 millions US$ because of this success, In short, by using his smartness, because of the influence of NZT pill, Morra starts to running for the United States Senat.

GenreLimitless can be classified as a thriller and it fits in with this style because the film’s narrative is focused on the protagonist point of view with the fact that Eddie narrates over the top of

the film. It also deals with a mystery which is why at the start of the film does Eddie look like he’s going to commit suicide. Setting is in the real world with all the limitations it has on top of us. The use of the NZT brings in elements of sci-fiction with hope that in the near future we will be able to access and control all of our brain through the use of biology altering drugs. Very often in sci-fiction imaginative ideas and hopes of future are presented.

Opening Scene analysis

This is the first shoot that audience see. Along with the intense drumming on the door, it gives the audience an idea that someone is trying to break in. This creates tension and concern for the character’s well-being.

A close up shot then follows, highlighting where the sound is coming from and making clear the intensity of the forced entrance.

There is a slow panning movement across the scene, providing the audience with the setting.

The bashing on the door is still audible, give hint to audience that something bad is happening or about to happen. Also, as the sound hasn’t end yet, it makes clear to the audience that the villains aren’t going to give up anytime soon.

Also, there is a fading of the music, that gradually increases as the scene progresses.

Next, there is a slow-moving tracking shot, moving towards the sound of danger, forcing the audience to feel anxious and nervous about what’s going to happen.

This shot was short, fast-paced zooming shoot. Intended to give the name of the building, where the scene was set. As the pace of shots increase it gives a clue that climax of the scene is closer.

These two shots are also short, but they are panning shots. It establish more of the location of the scene and shows important information about the scene: there are security guards killed and attackers are somewhere in the building. This shoots can give a clue to the audience that men trying to force an entry through doors are responsible for that.

Voice in the back continues asking question about life. This suggest that character is close to the end of his life and is reflecting on experiences which put him in current situation.

Tracking shot is used here, with the purpose of exploring the surroundings of the environment. This shoot tracks backward and leads to the next shot.

Music that faded in, has now maximized in volume.

This shot is crane shot. This adds dramatic effect to a shot. In this particular scene it adds depth and height to the next shot, making it clear what will happen if situation go wrong.

Establishing Shot

This wide shot shows the protagonist from the film standing on the edge of an apartment balcony. The character is shown to be very small on the shot in comparison to his surroundings, which represents him as overwhelmed and vulnerable. The wide shot also emphasizes the deadly situation of the character. This extreme long shot also is known as establishing shit because it establishes the time and location of the scene.

This close-up shot is used to emphasize the emotions of the character. In his voice over, he says “I will never let them touch me” this shows his fear of the criminals.

But, the character looks like he is proud to make decision to jump because his death will be his own decision, and not someone else.

This shot is a close-up shot. It matches action of the previous shot ( him on the edge wanting to jump). This shows his willingness to die. Shot makes the audience feel uncomfortable and uneasy.

As the titles emerge, camera tracks through the city, establishing the location and setting of the whole film.

Also, allows the audience to assume that this is where the film is set (New York).

The soundtrack and the sound of the city is playing while this happens.

The editing of the movie has been done is such a way that the last scene is shown first. Audience know what to expect.

However, this is unclear until after the story goes back in time. The narration (non- diegetic sound) explains that the character that they see after the title sequence, is the same character, but in the past.

From this point, the story is shown as continuous – with the effect of fast forwarding through time at some points, because of the changes in perception of protagonist due to use of NZT pill.

First time on pill – Scene analysis

In frames above character is in a state of dumbness and fogginess of the mind. Dimmed and vague colours are used to show inner perception of character. Woman face is blurry to show that character character is unfocused on her and that he is not paying attention to what she is saying to him. Shots used here are Big Close-Up and Close-Up, to show detailed facial movements.

In this frame we see through x-ray vision that pill which has been swallowed by character goes to his stomach.

In this frame we have Two Shot of the same person to show that drug is kicking in. Character is starting to experience omnipresence and bending of time and space.

In frames above we see change in colours. Environment seems to more shiny, alive and vibrant. Camera is zooming out and as it happens angle of vision is increasing. It symbolises his expanded awareness and focus. Camera zooms out from Medium Close-Up up to Very Long Shot.

There is Close-Up here to show character's feeling of fascination and wonder for his new abilities. Main characters eyes changed to more blueish to differentiate it from previous state of unclarity and dumbness and to show his laser like vision.

We have here Extreme Close-Up to show character's new ability to notice and focus on smalldetails. This Extreme Close-Up is used to show that woman is enchanted by everything main character tells her.

In this frame creators wanted to show character's sense of total control over situation. They have done it by positioning him at the centre of the frame. Another method they used is his body position. Arms and legs are positioned in a specific way to show the audience his sense of power.

Here we have Medium-Shot of tripled main character. It symbolises his ability to do everything efficiently and fast. Character is feeling like he is doing this kind of work, which in normal conditions could be done only by higher number of people.

Ending Scene Analysis

In these shots we can see here both characters in medium close-up, used to show the symbolic body positions of them. Carl Van Loon is presented as sitting higher and looking down on Eddie to show his superiority and power of arguments he is using during that conversation. On the other shot we see Eddie being positioned lower as he is in subordinate

position and kind of being controlled. At least this is the first impression of the viewers.

Situation changes quickly in next shots.

Zooming shot used here is bringing us closer to see protagonist’s facial expression and the state of mind. As we know character is ultra intelligent due to use of NZT drug, so we can guess that how he presented himself to Carl Van Loon is just a part of the plan. In his face we can read through his emotionless face that he have thousands solutions for this

situation.

On medium close-up shots above we see Eddie on the left side of the screen and Carl Van Loon on the right side of the screen on the next shot. This editing technique creates impression of screen being somehow connected. On the other hand characters are opposed to each other face to face, this creates impression that they are conflict. Background is blurred and this makes audience more focused on what is happening with their facial expressions.

Close-up shots are used here to express more aggressive word exchange between both characters.

In this medium close-up Eddie is in the centre while he is grabbing Carl Van Loon. This centred position adds him power and highlights that he is now in control of the situation.

Analysis of other scenes in the movie.

Cinematography:

This low angle shot shot put protagonist in a dangerous situation. But in this situation low angle looking up on character emphasizes his control and power, which is a result of the pill he taken.

This medium shot present protagonist with careless appearance. The shot begins to pan chaotically as the character is walking across the road and he shows angry look on his face, which connotes his frustration and that his life is going nowhere. This is a juxtaposition to how his lifestyle develops later on in the movie.

Editing:

Here we have example of how eye line matches the seen object on next shot. Protagonist is looking at what he is holding and then in the next shot we see the object – pill. In first shot we see curiosity on his face, which shows the audience that what he is holding is interesting and has significance. Then second shot fully reveals the pill.

These two shots above shows a use of CGI that reveals a series of letters, numbers and equations around character and ceiling. This provides insight into the protagonist’s mind allowing the audience to relate more to what he is experiencing.

Mise-en-Scene:

There is a lot of mise-en-scene aspects used in that scene. For example lighting within the room connotes the negative direction in which his life is currently heading. Setting in low class bar creates similar impression and creates contrasts for some luxurious and rich locations he is put into later in movie. Glass of whiskey which he is drinking creates impression that he have careless nature and have negative attitude towards life. His clothing looks dirty and again creates contrast for luxurious clothes he wears later.

Knife being held here by antagonist, creates sense of threat and danger. As this is seen from the perspective of the protagonist it allows the audience to feel more engaged in the scene. Antagonist appearance and costume adds to his state of authority, which emphasizes the state of helplessness in which protagonist is in.

Narrative Structure Narrative structure of the movie present classical ‘zero to hero’ symbolism. Normal guy no matter what stage in his life (usually broke and unhappy) is able to become something beyond his wildest dreams. In this version the character is able to take control of his life by swallowing a pill, through this pill he is able to not only to write a best selling book or control the stock market. He is also able to climb his way up the ladder towards politic positions such as senator of New York or even the President of the United States.

Presence of narrative theories in a movie

Tzvetan Todorov, a Bulgarian literary theorist theorizes that most narratives start of in a state of equilibrium where life is ‘normal’ and the protagonist is happy. This normality is then put into a state of disequilibrium where a disruption of an outside force interferes with the protagonist life. Then he fights back to get back state of normality. This theory is only loosely implemented in Limitless movie. In the beginning of the film there should be a phase of equilibrium but protagonist is not in the state of equilibrium because he is not happy. Hero is presented as an unfulfilled writer rejected by his girlfriend. Now we as an audience do not know if this is a normal state for him, since we do not know how long he has been trying to write his book. Theory is reversed here, because part of theory named disequilibrium characterised by outside force changing life of a hero actually makes his life more successful. He receives a brain unlocking pill that actually puts his life into a better situation than he was previously. Then another outside force, which we can say is another disequilibrium, makes dangers to his supply of NZT. New equilibrium happens when he regains his supply of NZT which has been in danger, because of his enemies.

Vladimir Propp theory proposes that it is possible to classify the characters and their actions into clearly defined. In Limitless we can find some of the 8 classic characters (The hero, the villain, the donor, the dispatcher, the false hero, the helper, the princess and her father.

‘The Hero’ – Eddie Morra who seeks to become successful just like the stereotype.

‘The Villain’- Russian Loan Shark who is the biggest danger for the hero.

‘Donor’ – Vernon Gant, ex brother in-law who introduces Eddie to NZT.

‘Dispatcher/False Hero’ - Carl Van Loon, He first starts to be portrayed as a dispatcher who sends Eddie out on his quest to merge his company with another and then towards the end of the film where Eddie is now running for United State Senate he is then shown to actually be a false hero.

‘Princess’ – Lindy, Eddie’s girlfriend.