Exclusive: Director Neil Burger talks Limitless

Coming from Relativity Media and acclaimed director Neil Burger (The Illusionist), is Limitless, starring Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro. On the Eve of the film’s release, Neil Burger chats with Killer Film about the book, the cast, and what took him three years to direct again.

Jon: I’ve been really curious about this film ever since those viral campaigns were released. Those were fun, can you explain them?

Neil Burger: Those were an idea that we had. How do you present the film in a new way, with the idea of what if a new pill could make you rich and powerful? Would you do it? We started playing with it, coming up with stuff, until Bradley (Cooper) came up with the “side effects” angle of the coma, suicidal tendencies, etc. It was like “oh my gosh, we should do that as a commercial!” So we did it, and the studio was game for it, luckily.

Jon: It’s been a few years since your last film, The Lucky Ones, so how did Limitless come to you?

Neil Burger: Interesting, um, when did The Lucky Ones come out? Two? Two and a half years? Yes. The producers sent me the script for what was then called The Dark Fields and up until then, I had only written scripts to direct, so this was different. At first I was reluctant, but I soon realized it was a fantastic opportunity to take what was written on paper and just go with it. Push it into something that’s a new realm for me, in visuals and  in a narrative, something where I can just direct. It was kind of liberating.

Jon: Did you go back to Alan Glynn’s novel?

Neil Burger: Yes, I did. I went back and read it. We reshaped the script somewhat, even though Leslie Dixon (here) did a great job, she was open to some changes. It’s one of those things, where you hand you baby over, the director’s change things, the actors get a hold of it, then the audience knows more about the film somehow. That’s a sad part of the process, but we looked at the novel for some things again. But it’s all Leslie.

Jon: The novel had a darker, more personal ending. Did you like her changes to the final third of the film?

Neil Burger: I did. I liked the book, but the film is a different beast, you know. Like a symphony, it had to go out with a bang, and the book just petered out. It could have been interesting, but you make an agreement with the audience, so we came up with something that’s more powerful. The ending I liked, it was something we were playing around with.

Jon: Shia LaBeouf was originally cast as Eddie, but fell out, which gave us Bradley Cooper. Can you talk about the casting?

Neil Burger: Well, yeah Shia was in it, but then Shia broke his hand, so it didn’t work out for him. Bradley just came out in The Hangover and his star was rising. He was actually perfect for the role. He liked the script, we met for a meeting, met again, and he agreed. The studio was starting to think he could lead the film, which was hard, since financing depends on a bankable star, but it was all aligning for us. We were really lucky, since it’s a real tour de force part and did an amazing job in it.

Jon: Robert De Niro also is in the cast. On The Illusionist, you worked with Edward Norton, and both Norton and De Niro are intense actors and some directors have claimed that they are hard to work with. What’s your secret?

Neil Burger: De Niro is an intense actor, but it’s his acting that is that way. He’s actually a gentle and kind man. He’s generous; he wanted to be directed, which is fantastic. Bradley felt the same way, since he said De Niro was one of the more giving actors, present on set and generous, really honest. I don’t know how he’s been in other times in his career, for me, he’s incredibly easy and game for anything, a real collaborator. It’s intimidating having such a legend there, in your face, but no, he’s great.

Jon: The film has a fascinating premise of a man who pushes himself to the brink of access and riches, all through a pill. With the recent baseball steroids scandals, Enron, and our economy, the film feels like a parable or a warning.

Neil Burger: Yeah, I think so too.

Jon: So was it these elements that drew you to the film after a three year hiatus?

Neil Burger: Yeah, I think your right. I’m interested in all those ideas about power and what one would do to get and keep all of that power. What would we give up morally? In terms of Bradley Cooper’s character, he takes this pill and he’s willing to do anything to keep this pill, even though there is characters more ruthless trying to get it. His girlfriend asks him to stop, and he won’t.

I think that idea, that moral question, as you say, it’s like Enron; it’s this illusion of riches. How far are you willing to go? Power. Money. Bradley Cooper is a real winning character and you’re with him despite whether he does good things or bad.

Limitless is in theaters March 18th.