Film Review: The Upside

The Upside, Neil Burger’s remake of 2011’s Les Intouchables, is sentimental yet sufficiently charming.

Recently out of jail, Dell needs to prove he has been looking for work. Wealthy quadriplegic Phillip needs a new carer, and the unlikely Dell just might fit the bill…

A remake of Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano’s Les Intouchables, The Upside moves the action from Paris to New York. Director Neil Burger makes a few changes from the French film, but these work well enough. Some of the updates are enhancements, putting the two characters on a more even keel, in terms of their actions. 

Dell is the fish out of water character in The Upside. He is plunged into a world of opulence – a stark contrast to prison. Dell is given enough backstory to become more than simply a vessel to improve the life of Phillip. The odd couple pairing works well, with each of them experiencing each other’s world. There is plenty of humour to be found, even if the catheter jokes don’t always hit the mark. 

The narrative moves at a good pace, with the burgeoning friendship given sufficient exploration. The Upside is more concerned with an idealised version of the central pairing than a realistic one. The film does not focus on the race or class disparity between the two protagonists in any meaningful way, despite their differences being key to the unusual friendship. Instead, Burger relies on schmaltz to propel on the narrative. The result of this is a sufficiently entertaining film, but not a particularly memorable one.

Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart have good chemistry. The pair work well together; it is their combined charm that endears viewers. Nicole Kidman provides good support in a rather thankless role, whilst Tate Donovan is amusing in a small role.

The Upside is a saccharine affair; it will prove just the ticket for those looking for something sentimental but not too deep.

DVD Review: Limitless

Limitless features a pill that can open up the brain’s full capacity. Rather than offer enlightenment, the film instead offers pure entertainment. This is by no means a bad thing.

Eddie Morra is a struggling writer who lacks motivation. When a face from the past offers him a mysterious pill which will allow him to become the best version of himself, Eddie takes it. Eddie sees an immediate improvement to his capabilities, but things aren’t so rosy when he realises he is being followed…

Read the rest of the I Heart The Talkies review of Limitless here…

DVD Features:

Alternative Ending – The alternative ending sequence is actually around 6 minutes long, lengthier than some others that are supplied as bonus features. However, the first few minutes are the same as the finished film. What is interesting about it is that it offers a very different outlook to the original ending.

A Man Without Limits – This short featurette focuses upon the character of Eddie Morra and the casting of Bradley Cooper. Cooper’s passion for the project is made clear; the featurette is short but sufficient.

Taking It To The Limit: The Making of Limitless – Slightly longer feaurette that concentrates on the story and the production of the movie. The documentary features a number of the film’s cast and crew, talking to the producer about the original story, and detailing the location shooting. Although it is quite interesting, not enough is said about visual effects, which are plentiful in the film.

Director’s Commentary – Neil Burger provides a commentary soundtrack for the movie. The director provides the rationale behind some of the choices made, as well as insight into the production process. Nevertheless, it would have been more absorbing if Burger had offered more anecdotes about the making of the film.

The Limitless DVD also features a trailer of the film. Overall, the features are pretty much what you would expect from a standard DVD release. It is a shame that the commentary was not more engaging, but the features provide a suitable package for fans of the film.

Limitless is out on DVD and Blu-Ray on 1st August 2011.

Film Review: Limitless

Limitless features a pill that can open up the brain’s full capacity. Rather than offer enlightenment, the film instead offers pure entertainment. This is by no means a bad thing.

Eddie Morra is a struggling writer who lacks motivation. When a face from the past offers him a mysterious pill which will allow him to become the best version of himself, Eddie takes it. Eddie sees an immediate improvement to his capabilities, but things aren’t so rosy when he realises he is being followed…

Limitless is an enjoyable action thriller that combines the right amount of action, suspense and drama. The film moves at a good pace; it never really drags or goes off on a tangent. It is not obvious how Limitless will conclude. The film retains enough mystery to make the ending unpredictable. Twists in the film are subtle rather than defining, and as a result are more effective than many films that use the shock twist device.

The idea of a pill that could expeditiously improve cognition to an uncharted degree is a very interesting concept. Although the film can certainly be classified as science fiction, it does not really explain how the pill was formulated. This lack of rationale is not a problem as the story is really about Eddie, and what he does with his newfound power. The choices the protagonist makes are personal rather than what could be seen as more universal decisions. It is this that makes the character interesting; he does not necessarily plump for the sensible or considered option.

The cinematography and editing in Limitless are superb. The film has a very individual look to it; the stretching through the landscapes and locations is quite unusual. Director Neil Burger appears keen on using the visual to convey the mindset. The multiple Eddies indicate the speed at which his mind is working, just as the zooming through locations suggests how muddled the character has become. Effects throughout the film are good.

Bradley Cooper is a fantastic lead in Limitless. More often found in comedies, Cooper is just as adept in this action thriller. Hopefully his performance here will lead to more challenging roles for the actor. Robert De Niro is capable as ever in a small role, while Anna Friel looks very unlike herself as Eddie’s former wife Melissa.

Limitless is a highly entertaining film that should satisfy a wide demographic. It is certainly one of the better recent action thrillers.