MovieChat Forums > Limitless (2011) Discussion > The story lacks moral

The story lacks moral

posted 9 years ago by Kjottpudding
12 replies | jump to latest

Limitless was a fun film. It worked alright as pure entertainment, but there was so much lost potential. It could have been so much more! It could have had a smart story that we could actually learn something from, but in the end, it's just a dumb movie without any moral whatsoever.

So, all of this guy's success is just the result of this drug? He killed people while on this drug, even an innocent woman. He didn't know that he did, but he still did it, and he chose to still take the drug. And of course, this had absolutely no consequences for him.
What are we to make of this? Are drugs alright as long as you personally don't suffer any losses from it?

And money is the only thing that matters, apparently. He wanted to become an author - an artist. But it was quite obvious that this guy didn't give a crap about books, stories or the art of writing. He was only after the money. But then why would he even become an author in the first place? If he's so stupid that he can't write a book, how would he expect to get any outcome from it? Oh, yeah. Of course: He's stupid. Thank god he got hold of those drugs so he could forget all about his art and start to pursue more important goals, like MONEY!

Sigh. What a stupid movie.

If you want to win the lottery, first you have to make the money to buy a ticket.

[–] CarbonFiber 9 years ago

Potential SPOILERS!!!!

Towards the end of the film you learn he needed some of the money to fund his research into and refinement of the drug. Furthermore, he needed both the money and his rep as a super savvy financier to fuel his senatorial aspirations. I think, very early on, he decided he wanted to make a difference in the world and the money was just a means to that end.

[–] geearf 9 years ago

Who was the innocent woman he killed? The blonde one? I believe the lackey killed her and made it look like it was the main guy instead.

[–] blureshadow 9 years ago

My thoughts exactly.

[–] donbizzaro 8 years ago

Yes, it was skate face.

The impostor's back where he belongs. Let's forget him.

[–] IamCharisma 9 years ago

If you want some moral to the show. There is a complete world out there, fixated on perfection. And a lot more people junkin on antipsychotics, antidepressants, etc, to become fitting to norms of society (in the western hemisphere mostly). This movie shows a part of the downside of that.

[–] Viltrumite 9 years ago

I'm glad that the movie didn't try to deliver some ham-handed message about cheaters never prospering like so many other movies do. Why shouldn't you "cheat" if you can? Is it fair that some people are born incredibly talented and/or intelligent? Is it fair that some people are born to rich daddies? is it fair that some people are so good looking that they can become millionaires just by having pictures taken of them? The world is an unfair place, so if you can get an advantage, you're a fool if you don't take it just because of some misplaced moral qualms. Suppose NZT existed, and had none of the side effects as in the movie. Are you seriously telling me that you wouldn't take it? If the answer's no, then you're a damn fool.

[–] StrontiumAE 9 years ago

Well he is the bad guy in the TV spinoff, so I guess the moral of the story is 'power corrupts.' Even his girlfriend who took the drug to save herself said so.

http://www.1971-reviewae.com

[–] Viltrumite 9 years ago

Well he is the bad guy in the TV spinoff

Really? That's disappointing. I thought that Limitless subverted the common trope of "if you get ideas above your station, bad things will happen" that fiction relies upon so much.

[–] HarveyMidnight 9 years ago

So, all of this guy's success is just the result of this drug? He killed people while on this drug, even an innocent woman. He didn't know that he did, but he still did it, and he chose to still take the drug.

I thought the woman's murder was a setup, by Atwood's people. They finally figured out Morra had the pills ON him-- so, of course they'd have to come up with a complex plan that Morra's NZT fueled-brain wouldn't see coming, in order to steal them: kill a woman he went home with and make him a suspect.. Morra hires the best lawyer in town, Atwood pays off the lawyer to get into proximity and steal the pills.

Even the unidentified witness was probably planted by Atwood to mention Morra to the police--which is why he backed off & didn't I.d. Morra in the lineup, cuz the lawyer already had the pills.

It could have had a smart story that we could actually learn something from, but in the end, it's just a dumb movie without any moral whatsoever.

I think it DOES have a moral, tho... power corrupts. When he was just 'dull, normal Morra' he DID want to be a writer. But once he had those pills, he realized how EASY it was to manipulate people and use information--- and get whatever he wanted-- women, money... And the more money he had, the more leverage he had to use people. Until the guy he originally saw as a mentor and peer-- De Niro's character--- just became another useless obstacle, another rung to step on.

Sometimes fires don't go out when you're done playin' with them.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

He was a total asshole, when driving around in high speed, though. An intelligent man would never do that, only some degenerate thug.

[–] HarlemEagle42 (17745) 2 years ago

It’s kind of refreshing tbh.