It's a couple of days before his movie, Limitless, opens, and director Neil Burger is nibbling at sashimi in a restaurant, pondering a question of whether he's got more at stake with his latest film.
"Interview with the Assassin got me some attention' - and with The Illusionist, it felt like there was more at stake," the 48-year-old director says. "With this one, I know what it is: It's a fun ride that I know people will enjoy. I hope it does well - but I feel like it's a little out of my hands."
It was out of his hands - but it also did well. Limitless opened at No. 1 at the box office this past weekend, outdistancing the weekend's other newcomers (The Lincoln Lawyer and Paul), as well such holdovers as Rango and Battle: Los Angeles.
From the man who made seemingly personal films such as The Illusionist and The Lucky Ones - films he wrote and directed - being a director for hire on a popcorn movie like Limitless seems out of character for Burger.
"It's not out of character," Burger protests. "It's right in character. For one thing, I like a story that's a crazy and wild ride. And, really, it's not so different from my other movies. There is a thematic thread that connects them.
"They're all about a character who feels powerless in the world and has the opportunity to do something about it. Whether they're doing the right thing or not, they're challenging the limits of their moral identity. All four of my films have been about power, whether overtly or not."