Get a full month of MUBI FOR FREE: mubi.com/justwrite
Support the channel: / justwrite
In the first of two videos, I take a look at the 2011 film Limitless, neoliberalism, and nootropics.
Twitter: / sagehyden
*****
Music:
“Electric Mantis - Daybreak | Majestic Color”
ow.ly/G7gg30iypqm
I always thought of Limitless as an actual writer going through depression and writer's block so he just wrote a bunch of fantasy porn from his daydreams and sold the script.
Exactly this. "Hmmm... how can I finish this manuscript?" ... "I know! I'll just write a manuscript about a writer finishing their manuscript!"
Adaptation did exactly that
@@tedarcher9120 better
@Feddexkill Go away.
I live in south america too, neoliberalism f*cked my country many times before, and I honestly expect it to happen again in some years
I love this whole franchise. I always describe to people as 'imagine if cocaine actually made you as smart, good looking, and funny as cocaine makes you think you are.'
im gonna be honest this is what its like to chew five gum
Do you know what micro-dosing is?
Modafinil, Adderall, Nicotine, Caffeine, Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen. Modafinil keeps you awake, Adderall keeps you focused, Nicotine and Caffeine work to enhance the effects of the Adderall as a stimulant to increase your heart rate, and the pain relievers all do different things to the circulatory system to increase blood flow. Combine that with oxygen boost canisters and you'll be able to write a novel in a week.
@@bradweir5579 Jesus Christ man
Lol @@blake4keller
I hope writers stop using the 'only using a percentage of your brain' myth.
It was great that the series ditched that and made fun of it.
Narrator: They didn't.
I hope people who see the "percentage of brain" thing as a myth stop confusing between 100% parts(which they claim as seizure) & 100% performance
It's very silly, but it's a sticky idea. There are probably dozens of myths like that feeding into your understanding of the world.
@Alexander Supertramp that's exactly what I was complaining about people who say the "brain percentage" thing is a myth. That misconception about seizure is what they keep saying, I was just repeating their words. They're the ones having it backwards. I'm also aware of the performance thing, unlike them, that's why I said "100% performance" and differentiated it from "100% parts" How did I "have it backwards" when I want them to be aware of how the percentage thing is about performance, just like you?
I'm still pissed they cancelled the show. It was surprisingly good.
Seconded
They said the show will encourage drug abuse
@@fatinnoor2422 That's just Stupid.
Wasn’t that great, it was just okay
Was enjoyable not good per se
Didn't even known the movie was based on a book.
Most people don't. People don't know about many books that movies are based on. Did you know Tarantino's Jackie Brown is actually an adaptation of the book Rum Punch? I learned that yesterday. I'm sure the list is quite long when you start looking at it.
@@PresidentialWinner Nice
That's because you don't have a 9000 IQ. Here, take this pill.
@@PresidentialWinner Die Hard was also based on a book (apparently a really really bad one)
The story how the writer got the rights is great.
Just Write: America is obsessed with work Me in the middle of a workday: I'm gonna stop working to watch a video essay about a movie I've never seen
In a way that even proves the point. I'm doing the same. I have a 40 hour week, 8 hours in the office. I finish my work in basically 3 hours and try to stretch the rest over the time. It's a boring job but also easy going which I prefer right now. I wouldn't mind actually working 8 hours a day if it was challenging work that's actually useful to the world and, of course, pays well. There are not many of those jobs though. So option B would be: 6 hour days for the same pay. The quote at the beginning of the video was intricating to this. Nowadays ideas like the 6 hour days get denounced. Same goes with the universal basic income. But it's really not that long ago when business owners and politicans could workers get on their side by saying: 'Look, we work hard now but because of technological and progress WE create we all have to work less in the future.' And that's true, we don't really need to work that much anymore in western countries. So what the heck happend? Why do we still do it? One answer: Neoliberalism.
So even when you're slacking you're being productive. What a good boy.
I think that is showing the disparity between what "the Man" believes is expected of an adult member of society, while the actual worker is facing an existential crisis. There are 24 hours in a day and the American Model is: 8 hours for work, 8 hours for sleep, 8 hours for self. But, if you need more time for anything else, it comes out of your sleep or self time, work always gets their 8 from you. In other countries, when someone asks, "What do you do?" people respond with a hobby or lifestyle answer. In America, people respond with their job.
@@MelchVagquest here in India, I have to work mon-sat (no saturdays off here but there is a minority of workplaces that do that too), 9-6 +1 hour for commute, so that is pretty much 10 hours of my day. After working and fighting traffic, even trying to relax feels like work. A lot of people basically don't have a lot of hobbies here and most that do usually like to mention 'travelling' which they might be able to do on a national holiday. So yeah, America isn't the only the place that ties self-worth with profession. I'd say Japan, China, Brazil, Poland, and Russia fall in the same line too. Although in my opinion, Americans seem more fulfilled (from a third world perspective) or at least in terms of infrastructure.
@@trueromani7262 You're definitely suffering! I don't know your full situation, but I think you should find different work if you can. As a human, you deserve to feel fulfilled. Living to work is not the same thing as working to live.
“I have something that the rich will never have... enough”
Wow, where's this from?
@@tutumazibuko2510 "Said by Joseph Heller, author of Catch-22, in a conversation with Kurt Vonnegut, author of Slaughterhouse Five."
deep. LOVE this quote!
@@echelon2k8 Thank you so much! :3
@@tutumazibuko2510 if you look up the quote, there's a Quora blog post about it's origins. Also, in a related post to the first that will probably appear, I highly recommend the "What's it like to be discreetly wealthy" post, because the comments are eye opening
I thought that the moral of the movie was that you can only win at neoliberalism if you cheat.
Make Lots of Money = Must Be Smart.
Cheating is encouraged by neoliberalism. That's literally why smart pills exist in real life. The movie presents it as working as intended
@@cabrejos96 Well at the end they establish that you need a supply to keep going and if you lose that shit your literally just going to drop dead. At the end of the day Eddie just got lucky. It would've been cool if they showed a version of him not being so lucky but honestly that version is just the book.
@@cabrejos96 That is a bit of a wild theory, and unfalsifiable at that. No, human greed and crony capitalism promote cheating, not neoliberalism. Btw, the correct term is actually classical liberalism, neoliberalism is a fallacious postmodernist revision of what is an old lasting economic philosophy. Also neuro stimulants like Madafinal an Adderal are used to dominate the marketplace in "neo-liberal" capitalist America? That is almost as bad as Alex Jones' conspiracy videos at info wars. Adderal exists to treat people with ADD, and Modafinil is used to prevent the adverse effects of narcolepsy. Bit of a stretch to claim neuro stimulants exist for the sole purpose of neoliberal capitalism.
We'd all be a lot better off if we admitted capitalism was the problem. But everyone seems to think you can't have commerce or personal possessions without capitalism for some reason, so they're all going through insane mental gymnastics to defend it.
I had no idea this was a franchise, I thought it was a stand alone movie.
@Novem's Natural Roll phenomenal!!
The series was better than it had any business to be. Still sad it was cancelled.
@Novem's Natural Roll TBH I was all excited about the TV series when it came out. It was disappointing and more or less just another Police procedural. I gave up after 8 episodes.
@@sampat97 the best episodes come later in the season
@@sampat97 I think that's unfair; I thought it was really good. Yeah, it wasn't groundbreaking, but it was a really good, fun version of that type of show. It played with the formula enough to keep things fresh and interesting, with themed episodes... the main character really grew on me, and I love Deb.
It’s a shame that the show didn’t get picked up for a second season. I really enjoyed it
Yup. I loved it...!
As someone who loves the source material, a novel called “The Dark Fields”, Limitless is one of those shows that can be one of the best.
@Keanu Xu Very appealing visually.
@Keanu Xu Pretty much. I wasn't too sorry there was no second season though.
Yeah and it's one of those rare ones where the movie is better - Same for Silver Linings Playbook (strangely enough also starring Bradley Cooper and DeNiro) especially in regards to the relationship he has with his dad in the movie that wasn't in the source material (in the book, the ex never showed, the dance competition was only like a talent show and Jennifer Lawrence's character was supposed to be older than Bradley's [actually kinda wish they kept that because I don't like how Hollywood treats most actresses over 30 but honestly the chemistry between the 2 is golden])
First time I saw the movie thinking why didn’t Eddie grab a book on chemistry and learn to synthesize himself. That’s my first instinct after acquiring the bag of limitless pills with no knowledge of the supplier. Eventually he does go to a lab, but that gets shut down. I’d want to formula memorized and multiple labs to be able to produce.
EXACTLY MY THOUGHT, thank you God for this unexpected validation. He's supposedly got this jumbo-brain but fails to foresee that ensuring his access to the drug should be priority one while he still has the faculties to make it happen. He only starts to worry when his supply starts running low, which is something that should never even have happened in the first place (assuming the drug is actually making him smarter and isn't just a placebo like the ones Charlie was taking in that one It's Always Sunny episode)
America: Americans are obsessed with working Japan: That's really cute.
Japanese work a lot, but money isn't the main motivator. Reputation in the community matter A LOT in Japan. If you're an adult you MUST work. Especially if you're a guy. Those that are useless to the community are ostracized.
It’s similar in South Korea but they are fixing it(?) I think.
You get statistics at the beginning of the video guy
@@smartstuf1026 Are people no longer working?
Stuart Withers no its the opposite, like japan they work for an unhealthily amount of time with little breaks.
"No hardcore limitless fans out there..." Excuse me sir?!....
For real! I'd watch or read more limiless stuff if only they made it. A comic would be dope as shit.
Is the limited series any good?
@@fattahrambe it's not bad
It's called the Nofap Community.
@@fattahrambe it's great, but it ends on a cliffhanger for a second season it never got.
When Cooper's character abandoned writing, I felt personally offended as an aspiring writer.
Same. Also, I have a vague recollection of him justifying the need for money with having some "big idea" that would fix humanity or something...but once he started making money, that never came up again lol. The whole thing kind of implied he was only trying to make it as a writer to make money, which...I don't even know what to do with that.
@@meganswaine4135 Yes yes yes, exactly that. After the hairdo changed, I was pulled out.
It's almost satirical, right?
As if his values would change. Make a writer smarter and they will write better books. The smartest people have their identities and values wrapped up in their mental work. Bobby Fischer (alleged to have an IQ of 180) wouldn't suddenly throw away his chess board to invest in stocks if given 20 more IQ points.
But it's actually realistic. I have a couple of friends who took nootropic drugs to improve (mostly in college) and they said thst the creative part just stops existing. you don't find any fun in creative work and instead you enjoy doing the opposite.
It's worth noting that the film originally had a much darker ending with Van Loon getting the better of Eddie art the end. But it didn't screen test well so they changed it to the ending we have now
Love it when test audiences ruin perfectly fine endings
@@jond6666 it's on yt, it's really bad very anticlimactic
based testers
I remember watching this movie, coming out of the theatre, and thinking the ending is just wrong. He just wins. He achieves perfect happiness and success. It's crazy. I thought in the end he would either have to come off the drug and settle back to his old life, or just die chasing success. But he just wins. It's still weird.
plus he never faced any repercussions for any wrong he'd done. I've seen the movie today and genuinely hated Eddie, the only character I rooted for was Lindy tbh Eddie cheated on her not once, not twice, but three times with three different women and never faced consequences for that. not only that, he murdered one of those women and never faced charges for that either... then later he murdered THREE men in one day in his own house, but apparently the cops in this movie are dumb as hell and they didn't think to connect the dots or do forensic testing on the knife Eddie left stuck in that Russian guy's body. when Lindy found out his success was because of a drug she left him. but at the end of the movie, with no explanation, it is shown that they're back together. after all he'd done. 3/10, I give it a 3 because at least it was engaging.
he drinks a dudes blood just to get another boost from the nzt. there’s definitely something about that that needs to be atoned for in some way lol.
based ending losing is cringe
@@larsswig912 It definitely glossed over him cheated on her - you could argue they weren't exactly back together yet but he was certainly wasn't faithful. However in Florida, where I live, State Law is of the opinion that if 3 men illegally break into your home with weapons and try to murder you, the fact that you were forced to defend yourself and succeed by taking their lives, doesn't constitute as "murder", and I concur. Also I would count 3 men breaking into your home and trying to kill you a "repercussion" is it not? Also he got physically sick as well repercussion #2. So he tapered off and stopped. He learned how to thrive without it. That's a great goal for anyone with a substance dependency. There's a message there, they don't spoon feed it to you.
Power fantasies for Americans. The tagline of 80% of all films.
This video is wrong. The video claims that Limitless pushes the message that in the US, all you need is hard work and intelligence to succeed. It doesn't push this message. Eddie's success comes from an unbelievably extreme level of sci-fi intelligence that doesn't exist. The movie makes no claim on whether or not Eddie would have succeeded if he had a realistic version of a high level of intelligence. Also, Eddie doesn't work hard since his "work" is as easy to him as a grandmaster beating a 10-year-old in chess. Eddie doesn't work hard because, thanks to NZT, that's not required. If the movie wanted to push the message that the video is claiming, they would have shown Eddie struggling as he worked, and there would've been no NZT, so Eddie would've been a hard worker with a realistic level of high intelligence. The movie portrays superpower wish fulfillment. If I had to see a message in it, a charitable interpretation would be that with enough intelligence, any problem can be solved.
@@theendofconfusion While that is the view and reading I have of the movie, I do have to point out a major element you're missing: critical thinking and reading like this aren't the most taught skills in this global society of ours, lots of people don't come out of the movie seeing what we see as obvious. Some people will see the drug as just a cinematic shortcut for speed "cleaning your room" JP style, and his super intellect as just a way to cinematically make his ascension faster. They come thinking the realistic version is like that, but slower. Because they approach it as power fantasy, and reason takes the backseat.
@@louisvictor3473 I didn't consider that. Very good point.
"The mere existence and popularity of drugs like this[nootropics] is just another symptom of America's work obsession" - this video. Critical thinking and quality reading involves looking beyond the surface level obvious content of a film y'all. There's a deeper theme than just "man takes smart pills then gets richer". There's still a socioeconomic paradigm that the film supports.
First, I'd say that's the tagline for 80% of mainstream films. If you go to the independent and art house cinema, you get a much larger range of topics and forms. If you then also go internationally, it becomes even more diverse. Second, these power fantasies aren't just for Americans. And not just from Americans. Unfortunately, one can say.
2:30 "What kinda guy *without a drug* or alcohol *problem* looks this way?" Smokes.
Point. Epic Point.
They want us to believe nicotine isn't a drug. But try to get off it and you'll see.
"They want us to believe nicotine isn't a drug." Who is still making that argument in 2020? Or in the 21st century for that matter? It was hammered into my brain that smoking was addictive when I was a kid in the 90s.
Tobacco companies make that argument, I see tobacco ads everywhere in the streets, but more and more badly disguised as harmless products like tobacco heating devices or electronic cigarettes. Many people got the anti-smoking message, yet hundreds of millions still smoke or start smoking and tobacco companies make billions off the junkies they groom. And the image that smoking is cool still prevails, just look at the number of today's tweets adoring photos of young actor Tom Holland because he looks so cool smoking a cigarette in his new movie.
I'm pretty sure the line was ironic because they actually establish that he has a cigarette and alcohol problem. Shit guys watch the movie. Don't just look at these video essays that just want to prove a point.
"Part 4... nootropics" i love the implicit sigh and groan in your voice when you say this
Limitless was an important movie for me. It helped me change how I contextualized intelligence and charisma from it being something you're just born with it and/ or raised to develop, to it being a state of mind which can be induced and weaponized to improve yourself and the world around you regardless of your background. It's not that you didn't study or your parents are stupid and uncharismatic therefore you are. It's more that you aren't in a productive and positive state of mind that feels inspired to learn and socialize effectively therefore you don't. Intelligence, charisma, confidence, etc all lies within a state of mind that we all possess in fleeting moments but we can develop it to improve our lives. It's not just about making money, it's about being the best version of yourself.
There was also the movie phenomenon with john travolta, from 1995 I guess. The character also gains super inteligence but he decides instead to study new things and create stuff to help people around him. So it all depends on who gets the power. Not everyone is work or money driven. Most people tend to settle and invest in some personal projects after achieving some level of financial security.
Look at the characters backgrounds and upbringings. Travolta's character was a talented mechanic but probably on the lower end of average intelligence overall that had been grounded in rural america values Eddie Mora was a college educated individual with better than average intelligence to begin with and had moral basis developed from living in a large city where your value was based on your status/money. It's easy to see how the two characters would diverge and take different approaches with their new found intelligence.
@@raves8451 that is what I said. The thesis behind "limitless" is that anyone or most people would do the same as the main character, but I disagree, that character is a very specific one, and the thesis goes further and makes even greater mistakes while blaming the free market, saying that is what drives people into that mindset. As if ambition and power-driven people only exist because of "neo-capitalism". Bullshit. Any 3rd-grade history class can show you otherwise.
@@cafezal Considering both are fictional characters I don't think either are great representations of what would happen, but I was simply expanding on your statement as to the reason for the different approaches. Also the rate in which each character obtained their super intelligence probably affected how they would've acted as well. Going from your current state to super genius in less than a second is obviously going to be hard to handle immediately and would lead to grandiose ideas whereas incremental increase to super intelligence would provide the ability to better appreciate the gift that is being obtained the improvements its made to their life.
I got the impression that Eddie's brief stint in the stock market was a means to an end in the movie. I assumed the "plan" he mentions when he starts taking NZT was much grander and he just needed the money to facilitate it. I get the "cautionary tale" the book is going for, but I think it makes more sense that someone with a much higher intellect could see a crash coming and avoid or even exploit it.
Yeah I agree !
Why not go with that? That his goal the whole time was actually to get into Office? That when he was in the Stock Market, and after analyzing his life thoroughly enough he figures that if things are going to get better with those without the Drug, then he is going to have to make the changes himself?
this. for as much potential as he might have unlocked being able to see things on a much grander scale, it would be utterly impossible for him to achieve such potential without climbing through the social hierarchy, and in order to do that, unfortunately means money. it would be stupid of him to be able to plan and see his life on a much bigger scale but refusing to make money, all of that potential would be squandered, he would be actively LIMITING himself.
I mean in the TV show which is a continuation showed that he's aiming for the presidency. So yes he aimed high and reengineered NZT to not give him any side effects.
but that's the thing: often times, markets, espacially stock markets, ARE unpredictable, no matter how great you intelect
"First Year on Adderall: The Movie"
Awesome video. Glad someone made a video on this movie and I love how you didn't just analyse the movie but focused on real-world aspects too.
Growing up with a lot of soviet literature, i noticed how much ”work” and ”labour” were put on piedestals in the ideology of the Soviet Union. Hard workers were given awards and prizes. Art was created to celebrate the workers. But then the reality of it was that the work ethic was pretty bad, especially compared to the work ethic of the neoliberal worker. The soviet labourer did not believe that his work would reward him, and thus put in the minimum effort. I am, of course, speaking in blanket terms here. At the same time, across the iron curtain and over the Atlantic, the ideas promoted by the state were mostly about ”freedom”. The hard-workig american did not strive to be hard-working just for the hell of it, he did so because of the profits and gains. And what you describe in the video, the disillusionment with capitalism, i think is a result of us seeing that no matter how much we work, and value we produce, it will not give us more control over our lives. The strangeness of worshipping freedom, but at the same time labouring as much as possible is a paradox.
The problem boils down to a fundamental aspect of any hierarchical system. Hard work is glorified, but only the people in charge see the benefits.
I think an anarchist approach to work is better, getting rid of hierarchy and profit, and democratizing every level of the workplace makes it far more enjoyable.
Spoken like a kid in their 20s. Hard work yields freedom for most, not only in your personal life but in your work life as well. Your money is yours, you choose how it's spent. It's not some illusion, it just takes time and that's the point. Hard work paying off right away wouldn't be hard work and yes sometimes it is it's own reward. That said a liberal arts degree is likely a waste of time professionally (frankly personally as well most of the time, one can choose to read David Copperfield on their own). It is also not hard work, I'm an engineer/physicist believe me I know precisely how little effort it takes to get a BA. I had to take the same courses because we have to be "well rounded." They literally took 1% the effort per credit of my other classes.
Sure thing "john Smith". Just don't come crying to schools when everything looks like shit, you have no art or entertainment, and your engineering job pays nothing because you've got thousands of other engineers vying for your position, and if you don't take that pay cut, your unemployed but equally qualified neighbor will.
It's not a paradox at all. You have to understand that the American idea of "freedom" is very geared towards labour. It's about being able to buy all the stuff, having big houses, big cars and lots of money. Basically having the CHOICE, to do whatever you want, at least theoritically, in practice, even if you have the money, you probably don't have the time. And that's the idea of freedom they have, and the only way to achieve it, is through labour. The genius of it all, is calling it such a nice buzzword: freedom. It's a term that's thrown around with loads of different meanings, since the true meaning of the word has always been an unattainable concept
There's something utterly disturbing about making a movie singing the praises of hard work and being rewarded on your own merits, that is itself centered in a guy who has to take a miracle drug to play the part of Uber Capitalist Man. What about the creator of the miracle drug, why aren't they the focus of the story? Seems to me they are the one doing the hard work, and the Eddie Moran guy in just coasting on it.
There it is
It's a very curious film. As the reviewer notes Morra is in effect a superhero without ethics.
@@alanpennie8013 Yes, but since comics dealt with the idea before (Watchman, MiracleMan), it is a bit jarring seeing a story with that concept and no pushback against it. I mean, even if you side with the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" crowd, the idea that to get ahead in this economic system requires a magic pick-me-up, which offers no downsides, isn't that a pretty obvious red flag?
(Sorry for my poor english) The worse part is that this uber capitalist man is dumb as fuck and made terrible mistakes. He doesn't even adress the risk of possible serious side effect of this experimental drug usage and get even wasted while on it.
I think if the focus would be on the makers / distributors of the drug, it could be seen as the glorification of drug dealers and that would go against the neoliberal message intended by the makers about Mr. Everyone McLoser who gets rich by hard work and the help of the holy stock market.
This might be the most well done video essay I've seen on youtube, very quality critique keep it up man
This was really great! And for every poin you made there is 100 more to go. Such a rich topic filled with important discourse. I hope you'll continue this line of thinking for many videos to come
"On average, Americans work longer hours than other developed countries" **Cries in Asian**
I laughed when I heard that bs ! Americans doesn't know the real struggle of hard work, ask the whole Latin America to begin
Now now, in Japan is there own fault, their low birth rates is making them have less and less potential work force, so they have to exploit the ones they have. But that's my theory based on anime & manga consumption, I don't know what's up with the other countries.
Diego M-A Most of South America isn’t considered developed. And yes, Americans work more than Asians. Asians have more holidays and retire earlier, in the developed nations there.
@@carlosroo5460 I think the biggest reason isn't because of birthrates, but the work culture. They have a strict hierarchy in both workplace and family, people in lower positions are expected to work long hours or you'll be considered being disrespectful to your seniors.
Diego M-A Latin America isn’t considered “developed” for the most part, so no, it’s not BS.
I lurked the Nootropics subreddit not long after Limitless came out, and I remember reading some horror stories from people who bought supplements from what they thought was a trusted seller, and it turned out to be either tainted with something dangerous, or was some other substance, and not what it was claimed to be and almost killed the people taking it.
I just had something akin to a spiritual revelation: Just Write sounds exactly like if Renegade Cut didn't have a constant head cold. (to be clear I adore both of them)
Renegade Cut is what you get if you took Ben Stein's ultra-liberal twin and had him teach an online class called Philosophical Theories in Popular Culture.
Fucking hate Renegade Cut.
I didn't much care for that movie, but the show was a whole lot more entertaining. I was a bit heartbroken that season 2 didn't materialize.
I thought the series had great potential too. It was disappointing there wasn't more!
meh, I loved the tone of the movie but the show was campy and leaned a little too much into the comic book aesthetic. I always felt the show thought it was a joke
@@RemyBustani It was extremely funny.
The Limitless TV show was so good! I'm sad it only got 1 season.
Truly excellent analysis. I remember liking the movie when I saw it, but now I agree that the fact that the foreshadowed drawback is averted at the last moment completely changes it from "be careful what you wish for" to a massive neoliberal powerfantasy. As someone working in the game industry, which is notorious for the practice of crunch and its high burnout rate, it worries me how easily I fall back into romanticizing the prolonged hard work certain games' creators had to or chose to endure. At the same time as an indie developer I feel that I am forced to work as hard as I can, because I cannot survive if the game isn't finished soon enough or isn't good enough on release. It also seems to me that creative work is very feast or famine in our current economy, where a select talented/lucky few earn a crazy amount of money but everyone else is not even permitted to stay afloat. There seems to be no middle ground between earth-shattering success and being dismissively classified as a hobbyist.
More lucky than talented, sadly
That’s a lot of entertainment tbh. There’s a reason starving artist is a culturally understood term. Most writers, directors, painters, sculptors, actors, costumers, etc have to work crazy hours their whole career or risk missing their chance while the minority become rich and famous. It’s not all looks or talent, there are many talented, hardworking artists that we will never learn their names because competition is fierce in entertainment.
Welcome to Extremistan.
God this channel is filled with leftist soy boys
Gotta say, this movie was so captivating to me on first watch. And for the exact reasons you describe - it's a pleasant fantasy. But it also screwed me over. When I first watched, my ADHD was still undiagnosed. When I'd received the diagnosis, you can guess what one of my initial thoughts were. ADDERALL. I would argue that nowhere is the obsession with - the binding of one's self respect with - work more prevalent than in ADHD-based communities. Many talk about stimulant medications like they're a silver bullet. I've even heard people actually refer to them as being "like the drug from that movie". And I'll bet that, for some, it is. It works well for some people. But it didn't for me. And I spend the first 6 months of using it being so fixated on if it's going to help me work better and get more done that I paid next to no attention to whether it helped my mood, helped me sleep better, eat better etc. Took me almost a year and 5 occasions of very nearly abusing it, to slap some sense into myself. I happened to read the books recently, and it's pretty horrible that they take the book's cautionary tale and make it into "if you can't read the elegant universe in 45 minutes, you're simply not smart enough to succeed". Edit: also, just thought I should mention for anyone wondering, stimulant meds do not make a person smarter. This is a myth. They quiet the noise. With people that don't have ADHD, it isn't that it boosts intellect, it just improves mood and boosts energy. Adderall is NOT A SMART DRUG.
I love these explorations of bigger socio-economic topics that you do! I am one of those who loved limitless, and now you got to me to look at it from another perspective...
Thanks for such a timely-oddly-discussion of this movie, but even more the insanity that is the US work place. Good segue into the horrors of working through this daunting pandemic. I work at Walmart as a cashier. I’m exposed to thousands of people each shift, probably a quarter of who aren’t wearing masks, or are wearing them wrong... or in their back pocket. I’m high risk, but have to work to keep the lights on, something in the fridge and ... bills. I also see a lot of these brain supplements being bought at between $30-$70 a pop by customers 60 years old and up. Good video.
You deserve better working conditions.
When a country values profit over people's lives it's bound for societal breakdowns.
@The Sage Millennial yo chill bruh its the internet...
@The Sage Millennial Schizo found beep beep
@@benjaminperez6756 you're a schizo and you need to be institutionalized.
Thanks for sharing your interesting perspectives on entertainment media and its implications in the reflection of social views. I appreciate how your videos get me thinking even if I don't agree with everything word for word. Alas, life and by extension art is subjective in a lot of ways. Nevertheless, it is a lot of fun seeing all these TV shows, moves, books, etc presented in a different light than I may have had when originally viewing. Thanks again for the video. Keep up the good work.
Just curious, but if no one should have to work during a pandemic, who will be providing the food? Or transporting it...or storing it where I can get to it...or keeping my electric freezer in power...or... Seems like someone has to be maintaining the sewers, slaughtering chickens and keeping KZhead up and running.
The idea is that you shut down social contact as much as humanly possible. You can have food delivered if you have money to buy it. Many jobs don't require in person interaction, and many that usually do can be done remotely or in shifts to reduce contact. But you knew all this already.
@@macrumpton that sounds like everyone still need to work, even in a pandemic. That seems very different than saying no one should have to work.
@@andrewjones2453 There are so many jobs that aren't or shouldn't be considered essential. For example I'm a croupier, a job that's not essential and not possible to do from home. Because of this I've been home in lockdown for the last six months still getting 95% of my salary. Damn I love living in a country that have proper "safety nets" for dire situations.
@@lolfelixlol do nothing while other people provide for your needs? Most people would take that gig.
@@andrewjones2453 You reached a good point. So welcome to socialism! You reached the point that nothing makes sense. They are just bunch of self-hating self-destructive humans who hate the nature of life and always blame a capitalist system for their loss, not knowing those flaws are not coming from the system, but individuals and finally the fabric of life which is not flawless. But they insist until they get fed up, and start a revolution, abandon capitalism and guess what happens next? The point of no return. A long-lasting swamp like an Anti-Capitalist system of my own country, Iran! or another one like Cuba... But they finally find out that the flaws were not from the system, but individuals. So they give up their revolutionary ideas and start again. But on what expense?
Great video essay. I'll be tuning in for more.
Thank you for crystallizing a concept I've been struggling to understand for the last year, while also making me stare at Bradly Cooper for a while. You're a lovely human being. ^__^
I’m still so salty about the cancelation of the TV series. A tv show where everyone seems to be having a blast and with a nice production budget and it dies after one season.
And the framing of the Bradley Cooper character as a bad guy was excellent. I was hoping that was the direction it went anyway.
Yeah, the show was awesome, funny, reinstated the critics, but got cancelled, i'm still salty.
I’m surprised so many people like it. A little confused too. I thought it was trash and rightfully cancelled
Well, it had huge stupid moments but I liked it a lot anyway.
@@niccosalonga9009 Fair enough! There's obviously something there for everyone to enjoy. My biggest problem was the pointless lore changes and a problem i kind of have with all of the limitless media movies and books included lol. i also have a problem with the lore changes in the second book too like i don't mind shit changing i just wish they would provide explanations instead of just assuming no one will ask questions lol
As a person required to keep working throughout the pandemic as an "essential worker", i couldn't agree more with the points you raised in this video. Especially because i'm high risk with asthma. I honestly cannot wait for the next part of this video!!!
You're witnessing socialism.. Some get money for not working at all while you're working to pay for it all! Socialism couldn't exist without capitalism.
COVID didn't cause any of this, just cast it into starker relief. The way we distribute burdens and suffering in capitalism is horribly disordered, as the most actually-essential people are inevitably paid the least and treated like dogshit. 'Socialism can't exist without capitalism' is only true in the sense that 'medicine wouldn't exist without illness'.
Wow, people are still analyzing this movie in 2020. Thank you for this, sir. This is a very thought-provoking movie and I appreciate you adding more and especially a critical lens to the conversation.
"Americans work longer and get paid less" Latin America: Allow us to introduce ourselves
You said it yourselves: Latin "America"
tbf this is among developed countries *on average* lmao.
@@carlosroo5460you know America or Americas is the name of the continent right?
@@jamesesparza6893 Exactly. "The Americas" refers to the landmass composed of North America and South America. "Americans" refers to people from the United States of-wait for it- America.
Latin American countries work less than the United States, and have stronger work/life boundaries barring some outliers like Mexico or Chile. This is beyond question. Try getting anything done quickly in Brazil and let me know how that goes for you. Nevertheless, other countries suffering from a similar problem to the US isn't a viable excuse for the labour situation in either countries.
I wish they continued with the television series too
Is the tv series any good?
Owen Bunny i think it’s great
@@owenbunny4023 I felt it was great as well.
Series was awful. And the majority of people also thought it was awful. That’s why it was cancelled.
@@benh8457 the series was all right. The reviews for it weren't terrible. Some shows just dont get picked up long term
This was more insightful than I expected. I love it!
I'll tell you why Keynes was wrong about reductions in work whilst still keeping the standard of living the same: we don't want to keep the same standard of living. None of us would be satisfied with what passed in the 1930s as a comfortable, or even wealthy standard of living from that era.
Lol my mom is a hardcore Limitless fan (and not because she takes nootropics). She even watches the TV show. I had forgotten I'd seen the movie until I saw her watching the show!
It's probably better to treat the better - living - through -chemistry premise as strictly fiction.
"On average, Americans work longer hours than other developed countries" Asians: *Surprised pikachu face*
longer "for less"
China and India and most of the Southeast Asian countries are still classified as “developing nations”
Someone should really tell this idiot about how insane the Japanese culture of work is.
@@gaunterodimm3569 JFC, he didn't say America works longer than every other country in the world. The problem doesn't cease to exist in America because it's worse in Japan and he's obviously not Japanese, nor is the franchise he's talking about set in Japan, so there's no reason to make the video about Japan and Japanese work culture.
@@MitchellD249 True. That being said a video about japanse work culture would be really interesting. Anyone know any japanese movies about this topic??
I knew this was going to be over.. can't wait for the next. Thanx!!!
Limitless is not about capitalism bruh. It's about self actualization, overcoming procrastination, and actually doing what you want. That's why its so beautiful
Finally, limitless is getting attention. It’s such a good series and it’s a crime that the TV show didn’t get a sequel. That being said, the TV show did get a good ending.
but sadly it stopped. I really want to see how Eddie will be brought down
@@KLBjordan7 same
Sure the movie was a bit odd to me and the series had some dumb points, but overall, I really liked it.
It's... It's a pretty bad series lol
@@fesoy1174 I will not contest that. It's a good sort of bad in my opinion, but that's just my taste.
My friend recommended this movie to me, and he embodied "grind never stops" I completely understand why he liked it
I'm a "hard core fan" of Limitless movie+series
Fantastic video - really thought-provoking. Keep up the great work!
So the book is more like an episode of Black Mirror, while the movie is a superhero origin story for Neoliberalism Man to the rescue. Maybe that says something about superhero films?
@Anti-Federalist 1776 Wait, if you are a fascist then aren't you into the whole genocide and enemies of the state thing? Fucking yikes
@Anti-Federalist 1776 Yeah, so you're just a crazy Internet fascist, I'll just keep existing I guess
@Anti-Federalist 1776 Well, fuck capitalism and liberalism, sure, but fascism doesn't sound really good either
@Anti-Federalist 1776 Do you really want to do this? Because I don't, you're just a lunatic who conflates the idea of worshipping the country you were born in with the idea of workers owning the means of production. Fascists and capitalists have always worked together and gone hand to hand, also having both killed socialist in countless occasions, so maybe neoliberalism is more up your alley than you thought
@Anti-Federalist 1776 Look, you are just too delusional to even engage with, so, considering how much of my life you like to assume and how much you strawman, I won't reply anymore because I really don't want to debate this. Do whatever you want I guess, I'll just notify you that I'm not interested in your bullshit, and that maybe you just need some help, and that's fine
I’m a hardcore limitless fan, this movie came out in 2011. I was 15, just entering high school. It was the perfect time for self reflection, reinvention, and maximizing efficiency to boost self esteem The movie’s message didn’t so much prioritize work to me as much as it does competency. The attractive nature of a person who’s capable of navigating the complex structures of our society while still coming out on top.
Agreed, kinda like "stop 'trying' to get it done and just 'BE' your awesome."
I couldnt have said it better.
did you do well in life?
@@travv88 i am currently - at least as far as mental health, quality relationships, and satisfaction in what i do.
@@ultimateformulations Nice. Honestly Limitless is a pretty awesome film. I rewatched it last night. It's not without its flaws, I found the ending to be lacking. About half way through he states he has a master plan. It wasn't entirely clear what that was, it almost seemed like a druggie type thing to say to justify his use. From what I gather his master plan wasn't becoming a New York politician, but was instead to figure out how to remove all negative side effects of the drug and gain permanent benefits. But even then, that wouldn't be the end goal, it would be a means to an end. I wonder what his ultimate goal was? Perhaps enhancing more people using this substance?
Dude, that's a hell of an awesome video. Great job.
I remember seeing this film and wishing there was a pill like that. Not for the money, just for the ability to create and be inspired without the weight of money, homelessness and illness:s I was expecting the end scene to be him being assassinated and was pretty disillusioned by the way it ended. Great video, love the content and always excited when I see a new notification from you x
I always found the notion of such a pill horrifying, which is probably why I felt that his success was hollow as opposed to inspiring.
Yeah I always felt uneasy and wondered when the other shoe would drop
If everyone used this pill... what then? “When everyone is super, no one will be” i guess people would just kill each other lol
@@daystillnight With that power, we'd end up advancing technology tremendously, until it would spiral out of control and we would hit singularity.
daystillnight Sounds like you’re gripped by the overzealous American notion of “success before others gives life meaning,” if you think the immediate response to a very competent population would be mass murder.
Charlie i meant it from the perspective of people who want to be at the top or the best at something. They might resort to killing the competition since there is no way to outsmart or outperform them.
My head hurts from nodding so much to this.
Then you're either agreeing with the video's sore attempt to represent the movie or you agree with the video's "anti-neo-liberal" agenda. Or both. This movie had nothing to do with ideologies, and more to do with storytelling. His interpretation is interesting, but it is irrelevant to the movie's actual plot or overarching theme.
@@piercekozlowski I feel bad for you, never able to see beyond the surface.
@@suzuplazabro shut up
Seriously, this has to be one of your best videos of all time
Amaaaazing video! Can't wait for the next one! :)
I also find interesting the sort of subculture that arose from the movie, the ones that claims that if you do "X" that you can basically do things like in the movie. Example? No-Fap. I'm all for having self-control and helping people that are addicted, but a lot of this No-Fap seems to be 100% against masturbation, period. Like they seem to think that doing it in any level will be harmful. BUT, if you don't do it then you will awaken your big brain potential. I think these type of people follow the same idea of taking neuro tropics, where we can in fact be almost like Eddie you just gotta take a pill/don't fap ever/[insert unfounded claim].
.../be vegan/stay single/find enlightenment/meditate/don't drink tap (it's "calcimatizing" your brain)/"mind opening" drugs, etc.
I call total BS, humans needs sex to propagate, sex in a part of us, if you don't have a stable sexual partner? Masturbation is a good alternative.
True, the results of no-fap are glorified way too much by that community and indeed have a lot in common with the neuro tropics this video describes. However I do think their criticism on porn(addiction) is valid and it therefore has a positive side.
@@InfiniteSkiegh "/be vegan/stay single/find enlightenment/meditate/don't drink tap (it's "calcimatizing" your brain)/"mind opening" drugs" Eat healthier, only enter a healthy relationship that you feel comfortable with, unplug from your screen every now and then, get a thermos, and don't do drugs.
@@pyroshell5652 I was giving examples of other things people may believe give you this supposed higher functionality, you're just naming things to take care of yourself properly. Lol
Limitless was in many ways a major inspiration for me and what ultimately burnt me out on society. It is, to me, the fantasy of the ultimate fulfillment of potential, as the name suggests, a world without limits, and i was obsessed with removing my own. I learned 3 languages, finished screenplays in several days, taught myself to draw, sculpt, made hours worth of music, mastered the culinary arts, could quote philosophy or literature by heart--until after several years of this kind of insane creative output of talent i was running on fumes, i plateaued in each and every genre and my passion could no longer sustain me in a world that did not actually recognize or reward the value of any of my talents. It turns out being really good at a lot of things doesn't really help you unless you have the resources to do something with it. And it crushed me to see talentless hacks succeed where i didn't on pure nepotism.
Really awesome analysis of Limitless! Never considered this fantasy of being ultra productive is partially a function of our times!
Congratulations on getting 600K subs!
I am a hardcore Limitless fan!
My boyfriend loves the limitless movie, because it mirrors how he feels when he takes his ADHD meds (#same haha). So there is at least 1 hardcore fan!
WELL done! Mubi has sponsored many videos I’ve enjoyed but this was the first time I’m tempted to try them out. Tying the theme of the video into an alternative suggestion at the end and then offering a way to see it. That totally worked. I completely went along with it. I know the comments should be full of remarks about the video itself and not the sponsor but clever advertising is a version of clever writing (creating an atmosphere, guiding the audience to see or feel what you would like them to) so I think it’s still relevant. 😂👍❤️
I just found this video today but it came out on my birthday!! can't wait for Part 2!
The ending of this film always did rub me the wrong way. I always thought Bradley Cooper's character just became a smug dick, so I didn't root for him when he "won" against Robert DeNiro's character.
And I thought it was always a bit open. Yes, he became a smug - but not too much that you didn't think: 'Hm, well, we saw were he came from and I might have done the same, so...'
I mean he’s not a good guy but he’s not bad. He operates in a gray area. Like a rogue god
He won. He can be as smug as he wants.
@@malcolmhodnett8874 No, his efforts became "pure" in the show, despite doing things that would otherwise be considered widely unethical. For example, creating a rice plant that would become sustainable in any condition, could grow in any environment, easily accessible, and containing every mineral the body needed. He wouldn't announce it for fame, he waited and decided to make it secretly for 3rd world coutnries without credit to help MILLIONS. His general philosophy is that the ends justify the means, with the means being within certain ethical boundaries.
He didnt do nothing wrong i don't know what your saying
An interesting twist would be that the “experience” and “intellect” divide widened and his lack of experience was his downfall.
Right?! Being a speed freak doesn't mean you're good at making wise life choices lol.
I just keep getting back to your videos and getting a little more whit each view. Thank you!
I've been looking for a proper analysis of Limitless, along these lines. Really interesting - thank you 🙂 Edit: and thanks for highlighting the point of the book, totally missed in the film, not unlike I Am Legend!
While I _am_ actually a superfan of the original movie, I wasn't even aware of the work that proceeded it. Great essay, as always!
The limitless show is one of my favourite shows of all time. But it went the way of the Firefly
To answer Maynard Keynes, you can live on 15h a week of work at an hourly rate of only $17/hour... before factoring living costs. Living expenses excluding rent/mortgage even in New York is $13k/year, what Keynes didn't factor was artificial scarcity of housing. Housing costs have gone through the roof because houses are now treated by land-owners how De Beers treats diamonds, artificially limiting their availability to control their price.
I must say as an og fan of the movie and the book it's really nice to see someone discuss it.
It's a franchise?
@@thomasgrindol9124 oh cool, I should check that out
@@studiol2miguel its great you really should, sadly it only has one season
@@studiol2miguel It's a really fun show. A bit like Legion only more light - hearted.
I like light-hearted shows indeed! Hope I can check it out on Prime or Netflix
Great episode. I had very similar thoughts about the book vs the movie as I was a big fan of the book before the movie dropped. Interesting thoughts about the current administration decision making and American work ethic too.
Wait wait wait I AM A “HARDCORE LIMITLESS FAN” 😂❤🎉 also brilliant video Also “he tries to get rich on the stock market” is a gross oversimplification of Eddie Morra’s ultimate goal, which is implied to be something much bigger about 1/3 of the way through the film. He continues to provide hints that either (a) he really is gathering resources and power to do something great for the world (e.g. the rice he shares with Brian Finch in early season one of the show), or (b) that he’s up to something more intricate, totalitarian, and sinister (as Piper implies in “The Assassination of Eddie Morra”). I love that his ultimate motivations are never disclosed, and what an intriguing & quality series that would’ve been had it continued! Meanwhile, thanks for cueing me in to the existence of the sequel! I’m excited to read it and the prequel soon 😊
what a coincidence i saw this film about 10 or 11 days ago and your video popped up in my feed today
your analysis is excelent! i had fun with the movie, but never really cared about analyzing it in depth. very good job!
"No-one is taking [nootropics] because they just want to get some more summer reading done." I've been taking Ginkgo Biloba for years for exactly that reason. I'm that no-one.
does it help ?
@@kjugirl Yeah. All it does is improve blood circulation. But you get more oxygen and nutrients in your brain, and can focus more. Reading does become easier.
Very good analysis. Reallly liking this type of video :)
Very well put together I loved it!!
Thanks for tying in "The Dark Fields" book. ;^)
I genuinely loved the limitless TV show. Was so sad it got canned.
Amazing essay 👏🏼
I've been watching your videos for years now, but I've gotta say I'm loving the latest essays you've put up. I really like your social and political commentary, and I appreciate you're not afraid to discuss these topics. Specially now - we really need to speak up about these issues. Thank you for that
My firsthand experience under lock-down has been that more and more people have started to find sources of fulfillment outside of work. I don't think it's necessarily going to dismantle our cultural mindset, but it's interesting to see. Overall I liked the video, but you really blurred the lines between two issues that I don't think are quite as related as you make them out to be. The human fixation on productivity/success exists with or without our economic system; which financially rewards participation. We can disagree in which qualities we see as being worth merit, but I'd question the supposed downsides of rewarding those who work hard, even if it leads to inevitable and necessary distinctions between those who do and those who don't. A very similar question that I always find the answers given to be fascinating is "would you still work part-time if you won the lottery?" You get a wide variance of answers, due to how intertwined people's lives are with their work.
Personally, if I got, say a $100m from the lottery, I'd stop "working", start a strong CD ladder, toss more money in my acorns account and high-yield savings and live my life traveling, learning more about music and art, studying the stock market because I find it interesting to begin with, buy some bonds, start streaming and making more videos. I'd just do things I found to be interesting and fun. Just my view, though.
My husband would definitely still work if we won the lottery, at least until our kids were grown and moved out. He can’t be home with us full time. But he works with multiple wealthy people who came back into the workforce because they got bored and the bosses know not to push them too much because they don’t need this job.
Love this. I don't normally associate JW with s--ting on a movie(/franchise), but I think it was very deftly done here in addition to opening more people up to our neoliberal (hellscape) world. Limitless definitely feels like it was handled in a way to, like you say, get people to go "oh cool, I want to be like this guy." Only other thing I'd add is at the beginning talking about how actually the rich work longer hours -- it's funny because so many of those hours aren't even what we'd consider work to anybody living a middle class life, too, it's just going to meeting or lunches/dinners with clients or just generally hanging out in luxury but you're on "company time." Great work overall.
@Ray Marquez it's a big L "Liberal" idea. Liberalism is a conservative ideology in the sense that it supports capitalism and the free market. the american use of "liberal" as "left" is not accurate.
neoliberal isnt "hellscape". In any functioning society, the people have to want to work. Otherwise the society will collapse, or those in power will use force to MAKE people work. The rich work. There are plenty of more introverted people who would consider a job like that terrifying, even if you don't. Also, when millions of dollars are on the line during a lunch meeting... do you really think just anyone could seal that deal? And some people are very stress advert -- like my aunt-- and love to clean and organize. You might consider being a maid "work" and "rich jobs" not... but my aunt would definitely take cleaning and organizing to the high stress "not work" that you are describing.
this is definitely one of your best videos
I have to say that this is the most eye opening movie explainations. Tbh, I never see the movie from such perspective and it also got me thinking.
This video feels like a part of Zizek's The Pervert's Guide to Ideology, i love it
Needs more sniffles
@@Alex-cw3rz and so on and so on
i remember liking parts of the movie back when it was released, but i also found it quite unimaginative. he becomes super-super-smart and he does what? write a book, play poker and the stock market? compare that with ted chiang's short story "understand", where the super-smart guy does some really awesome things.
Amazing video as always! Do you think you’d ever talk about Phineas and Ferb? Maybe how it takes advantage of its formula or its A B and C story structure?
Thanks for the content! Patrick brought me here but I've been subbed for a while