Ohne Limit

Du bist schlau, aber mach nicht den Fehler von schlauen Menschen, die denken, dass niemand schlauer sein kann. Wenn Sie Ohne Limit als unauffälligen, gewöhnlichen März-Thriller besuchen, der sich keinen größeren Star als Bradley Cooper leisten konnte, bekommen Sie einen frischen Entspannungsfilm mit guten Dialogen, guten Ideen im Drehbuch sowie bei der visuellen Gestaltung (die Jungs von Google Streetview haben noch viel Arbeit vor sich), und vor allem mit dem ausgezeichneten Cooper, welcher sich alleine, ohne zu zögern, um den intensiven Spielfilm kümmert. Und wenn sie noch dazu eine Schwäche für die junge Nicole Kidman namens Abbie Cornish haben, ist das Problem gelöst. (23.03.2011)

I wouldn't have expected such stylish and inventive entertainment from the author of the schematic The Illusionist. And in the case of Bradley Cooper, all I can say is that he has worked his way up from an extremely unlikable jock in Wedding Crashers to a dependable lead. Charisma combined with acting talent, I have no fear for Bradley’s future. (27.07.2011)

Limitless grows more stupid as the screenwriter runs out of pills. The idea on which the film is based is used skilfully at first and Burger succeeds in filling the holes in the logic (and in the chosen form of the narrative) with a boatload of optical effects. As the minutes pile up, the very simple initial situation begins to show signs of wearing thin until the people behind the camera seriously have no idea what else they can squeeze out of it (in the climax, they basically take a blind shot in the dark), at which point the film ends. The underused potential of the central premise is revealed by the cautious stab at politics just before the closing credits roll. If the plot had unfolded in this direction from the beginning, without the cheap subplot involving an Eastern European taxidermist desperately passed off as the main plot, Neil could have given us a nicely biting satire for our hour and forty minutes instead of another toothless thriller. 60% (26.03.2013)

A watchable film with entertaining formal tricks, but the script has a lot of problems. I was very annoyed by the main character behaving like an asshole all the time (and even more with the smart pill). Of course that made up drug can work in any way the creators see fit, so it’s pointless to look for any logic in its effect, but it still prevented me from fully enjoying the film. And either I didn’t understand its meaning, or the ending is utterly stupid. (21.05.2011)

Unglaublich erfinderische und technisch aufgemotzte Kamera (diese nahtlosen Vertigo "Fälle“ durch die Stadt stellen nach Enter The Void den größten Leckerbissen dar), ein exzellenter Bradley Cooper, welcher die Breite seines schauspielerischen Portfolios aufzeigt, sowie eine sehr interessante Prämisse über eine Droge, die zeigt, womit sie das versteckte Potentiell Ihres Gehirns erschließen. Also ist´s der Thriller des Jahres? Leider nicht. Das Drehbuch ist nämlich nur so lange interessant, bis sich die einleitende Szene mit einer retrospektiven Erzählung verknüpft, und seit diesem zieht sich das ganze in die Länge, ist langweilig und entbehrt jeglicher "dunklen Seite der Macht". Wenn denn hinter der faden Aufschlüsselung das Logo irgendeines Pharmaunternehmens mit dem Slogan "Wer nicht aufputscht, hat keinen Drive" erscheinen würde, wunderte ich mich gar nicht. Leider untergräbt das Ende die gesamte Partie und erklärt auch, warum Ohne Limit niemals aus dem Kreis zu treten vermag und nicht wirklich packend sein kann. Der Film ist furchtbar zubereitet, und anstelle sich im Fleisch festzubeißen, bricht er vieles mit drehbuchmäßigen Ausweichschritten hin zu problemlosen Enden ab. Ich habe den Film genossen, keine Frage, jedoch in dieser Form ist er eines von vielen ... Trotz der Tatsache, dass Burger zweifelsohne ein sehr geschickter Handwerker ist. [65%] (22.03.2011)

I'm debating the whole way out of the cinema whether to give it the full 5 stars or just 4 stars. Since the film had a few weaker moments at the beginning, I'm giving it 4 stars. At times I felt like a blotter that can't take in any more liquid because it's too full. At times it was really crazy and rushed and I couldn't keep up. The "licking" camera was getting to me and it’s a wonder it didn't make me dizzy. The scene where Cooper drinks blood from the ground was really good! Everyone in our row put their hands in front of their eyes. The NZT idea was fully exploited and I'm actually an enthusiastic viewer. (24.04.2011)

Limitless features an interesting and valuable subject that had great potential for a truly top-notch sci-fi thriller. However, this potential was wasted by an average screenplay that dealt with the subject in the easiest and least risky way for producers, resulting in a technically polished and professionally directed thriller, but one that also amounts to quite an undemanding popcorn movie with logical gaps. It is necessary to ask why the distribution of a commercially extremely interesting drug collapses after the death of the only dealer. How is it possible that the only user manages the correct dosage, and why can users who are pumped by chemicals that greatly enhance cognitive performance not obtain the appropriate substance from the manufacturer given their intelligence quotient? Not to mention that competition between individual geniuses themselves would have much greater potential. However, that would require an extra intelligent screenwriter who would probably have to be on the drugs himself. Many others have mentioned the quality of the cinematography and dynamic direction, and I agree with that and give the film a weaker 4 stars, noting that it could have been significantly better. Overall impression: 70%. (18.10.2011)

"I was blind, but now I see." A visual delicacy with a clever screenplay (which, along with 3DD!3, could be even cleverer ;). Burger knows how to sell a picture and his firm hand leads us through the nooks and crannies of a lazy writer who received his gift from God out of the blue. Bradley Cooper shows that he is someone to look out for in the future. His Eddie changes into three separate people and he is able to present them so convincingly to the viewer that you end up rooting for all of them. De Niro enjoys his more minor role of son-of-a-bitch magnate, it’s fine to see him act again and not just pull faces. Well to hell with the negative effects, I need that pill! (15.04.2011)

A smart and nicely psychedelic film with skilled cinematography and several excellent dialogue scenes, a few visual effects, and some high-quality finesse. It loses a bit of breath by the end, and I felt throughout that although the main character has an impressive vocabulary, he is extremely unlikeable, whether he is a loser or a superstar. De Niro is a Maybach is fine, in one of his typical roles, otherwise the topic is rather non-standard and attractive, with good ideas, but feels unfinished. (23.07.2011)

Sage ein Ja zu Drogen? Ohne Limit ist ein gut gedrehtes, aber gewöhnliches Märchen, das manchmal auf eine dumme Art und Weise sehr naiv ist. Das Ende wurde unglaublich schlampig gemacht (ich bin wirklich nicht der Meinung, dass man besonders scharfsinnig sein muss, um jemandem mit einem Fernseher den Kopf einzuschlagen oder um ihm eine Spülbürste in den Mund zu stecken). Zum Glück hat Ohne Limit den sympathischen Bradley Cooper und letztendlich auch Robert De Niro, der aber diesmal nicht viel zu spielen hat und in dem Film vor allem deshalb ist, um gezeigt zu werden. Das Buch soll angeblich besser sein. Ich würde es gern glauben, ich habe aber keine Lust es zu lesen. Wer weiß, wer es geschrieben hat und was er dabei konsumiert hat. (20.08.2011)

A pleasant summer diversion based mainly on a likeable central idea and, above all, the excellent Cooper in the lead role. This guy really has a lot of talent and it would be a shame to waste him in movies like The Hangover (as much as I love this comedy). De Niro is there just to get the check, but the sight of his distinctive acting style is also always a pleasure. As far as the story is concerned, this is a great sci-fi flick for the whole family, of which there are only a few a year, but such well-directed and acted films can always warm the heart. The only thing that could significantly spoil the overall impression, i.e. the purely American conclusion, is successfully covered by everything else. As a one-off affair, I can only recommend it. (08.02.2013)

"At first, 'All-Powerful' appears to be a sci-fi with elements of comedy, but as it progresses, you will find that it is actually a quite decent drama. Bradley Cooper plays a writer who is not exactly in a good place. It doesn't seem like he will be publishing anything anytime soon; it looks more like he could end up on the streets any minute now and settle for the company of homeless colleagues. His wife left him, but luck is on his side when he meets his brother-in-law. The encounter with him is strange, especially when his brother-in-law offers him pills that are supposed to enhance his brain function. Writer Eddie refuses, but then he simply thinks about what he has to lose. After taking the drug, he discovers an incredible thing. His brain really does work at much higher frequencies, his abilities increase, and he can do things he couldn't do before. He writes a novel in just a few hours, and the editor is absolutely amazed by it. It seems like the bad has turned into good and Eddie's life is finally taking the right direction. But he needs another pill for that, as one naturally doesn't last forever. However, his brother-in-law is killed by someone. And the comedy turns into a quite solid drama, which still remains primarily in a human, personal dimension. Bradley Cooper effortlessly carries the film, and it's no wonder that his star is rising. He is a likable guy who also knows how to act. 'All-Powerful' doesn't have an unexpected twist, it doesn't have a genius culmination, but it's still a film that will entertain you for most of the time. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/07/happy-feet-2-bobr-cislo-4-musketyri.html" (23.02.2013)

There's a lot of camera magic here, which is obviously very effective and pleasing to the eye. The idea of being able to use the full capacity of your brain for your existence is quite original, but I can't shake the feeling that the whole thing could have turned out 100% better if Burger had been able to keep up the pace he set in the first half all the way through to the end. On the other hand, despite minor quibbles, this is a very above average affair with an excellent Cooper, who is clearly capable of pulling off a feature film like this on his own (Robert De Niro of course ably seconds, but the focus remains on Cooper). Limitless is rather a pleasant, intimate sci-fi film with elaborate visuals and a slightly ambitious script. However, it is still quite a ways off from being an immortal classic. 3.5 stars (19.01.2014)