‘Limitless’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Shea Serrano
January 4, 2022 · Limitless (2011) · Sci-Fi · Thriller · 1:22:30
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsThe NZT montage (runner-up), subway fight scene, and Abby Cornish chased in the park scene▶ 30:12
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsDe Niro's performance - feels like he's on autopilot and didn't realize how good the movie would be▶ 49:01
Chris RyanDisagrees about De Niro - thinks he brings gravity to the role and it's not in top 20 De Niro performances but works▶ 50:11
Shea SerranoDisagrees about PG-13 rating - likes it exactly as is so kids can walk through room without changing channel▶ 52:01
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsShia LaBeouf — Shia LaBeouf was initially signed for Limitless in 2008 but had to drop out. Thinks the movie wouldn't work with LaBeouf.▶ 58:42
Chris RyanShia LaBeouf — Provided context about the timeframe when LaBeouf was getting good parts around Disturbia and Eagle Eye.▶ 58:47
Shea SerranoWill Smith — Guessed Will Smith would have been good for the role. Agrees LaBeouf wouldn't work because his face is too kiddish.▶ 58:34
Joey Pants Award
Chris RyanAndrew Howard — Praised Andrew Howard's work as Gennady and highlighted his performance in Mayor of Kingstown▶ 1:00:15
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsThe visual effects for the Wonder Drug scenes use fractal zooming jump cutting and motion control photography, particularly in the apartment cleaning scene with multiple versions of the character▶ 1:03:26
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsBradley Cooper — Bradley Cooper - American Sniper, not Limitless. For Abby Cornish - yes, this is her Apex Mountain when she was with Ryan Philippe and having a moment before Brie Larson corrected her. For Little Kid Ice Skate Attacks - yes, this peaks her in a movie.▶ 1:03:52
Chris RyanDiscusses the broader context of mid-tier action movies and how this type of film represents a peak for the genre/format, but doesn't give specific Apex Mountain picks for individuals▶ 1:04:17
Shea SerranoThe Good Son — For skating rink attempted murders - The Good Son over Limitless▶ 1:07:22
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsTom Cruise from 1992-93 era (The Firm) for Limitless; oven is underrated as hiding spot for drugs/money/guns▶ 1:17:35
Chris RyanTom Cruise for Limitless, also suggests Michael J. Fox; air conditioner vent for hiding drugs (like No Country for Old Men)▶ 1:17:44
Shea SerranoWill Smith from 2004 (post-Bad Boys 2) for Limitless; oven is ideal spot for hiding drugs due to thickness of bag▶ 1:17:00
Movies Referenced (47)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fight Club (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 5:02 |
| The Hangover (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano | ▶ 5:58 |
| Shooter (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 16:40 |
| Triple Frontier (2019) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:05:49 |
| American Sniper (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 22:28 |
| Bad Boys (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Shea Serrano, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:18:59 |
| How Do You Know (2010) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 39:09 |
| Pretty Woman (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 6:22 |
| The A-Team (2010) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano | ▶ 6:48 |
| Wall Street (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano | ▶ 18:18 |
| Wedding Crashers (2005) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Shea Serrano | ▶ 7:16 |
| Big Trouble in Little China (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 38:07 |
Directors Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Berg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Very Bad Things | ▶ 1:05:41 |
Actors Referenced (35)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley Cooper | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 50 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano | A Star Is Born, Silver Linings Playbook, American Sniper | ▶ 5:58 |
| Eddie Moore | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 29 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano | Blast from the Past | ▶ 2:14 |
| Robert De Niro | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 22 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano | Cape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver | ▶ 15:37 |
| Will Smith | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano | Men in Black, I Am Legend | ▶ 58:34 |
| Keanu Reeves | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano | The Matrix, Speed, Point Break | ▶ 7:01 |
| Frank Grillo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons | The Grey | ▶ 1:05:03 |
| Mark Wahlberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, Chris Ryan | The Fighter, Boogie Nights, The Departed | ▶ 16:14 |
| Andrew Howard | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | Limitless, I Spit on Your Grave | ▶ 1:00:14 |
| Jeremy Renner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano | The Hurt Locker, The Town, Wind River | ▶ 34:23 |
| Johnny Whitworth | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan | Limitless | ▶ 28:05 |
| Shia LaBeouf | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 58:41 | |
| Al Pacino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Dog Day Afternoon, The Godfather | ▶ 15:37 |
Writers Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 23:01 | |
| Alan Glynn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Limitless | ▶ 21:30 |
| Leslie Dixon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Limitless, Freaky Friday | ▶ 21:35 |
| Taylor Sheridan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Shea Serrano | Hell or High Water, Wind River | ▶ 1:00:38 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano | The Other Guys | ▶ 11:24 |
| Gordon Willis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Godfather Part II | ▶ 43:55 |