Director
Neil Burger
Leading Actors/Actresses
Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish, Robert De Niro
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Andrew Howard, Anna Friel
Genre
Science Fiction, Thriller
Language
English
Awards
Best Thriller at the 2011 Scream Awards. 2012 Nominee, Saturn Awards for Best Science Fiction Film.
Date of Release
March 8, 2011
Producer
Leslie Dixon, Scott Kroopf, Ryan Kavanaugh
Setting and Context
Present-day, New York City
Narrator and Point of View
Eddie Morra narrates the plot in first-person with an omniscient perspective.
Tone and Mood
The tone and mood of the film shift from gloomy to hyper depending on the mental state of the protagonist.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: Eddie Morra Antagonist: Gennady and the man in the trench coat.
Major Conflict
Morra has become addicted to the nootropic drug NZT-48 that allows him to use the entirety of his brainpower; however, others aware and addicted to it are after his limited supply.
Climax
The film opens with the climax before the protagonist narrates the prior events, Morra is about to commit suicide from the balcony of his apartment.
Foreshadowing
The film opening foreshadows where Morra’s new life will end up once he starts using the drug and finding success.
Understatement
“I was blind but now I see.”
Morra understates the power of the drug by using a clichéd phrase to describe abilities only a few have had the opportunity to experience.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
The film integrated never-ending sequences through fractal zooming and also jump-cuts to showcase the sensation of the drug. The visual effect that involves a character viewing themselves performing an action entailed the use of motion-control photography and green screens.
Allusions
The film alludes to the 10 percent of the brain myth that claims that humans only use a percentage of their brain and can access the unused cognitive power and intelligence.
Paradox
The drug NZT-48 enables its user to gain mental abilities and focus yet it deteriorates their mental and physical health with long-term use.
Parallelism
N/A
