So-so movie with best "twist" ever

Rating: 6/10 (16 March 2013)

This movie has a typical thriller plot - man tries to solve mystery and gets chased by bad guys while doing so. This helps to keep up a steady level of excitement and interest.
As thrillers go, however, it's not much to shout about. Bradley Cooper is OK as the unmotivated-wannabe-turned-slick-operator. But the basic idea - that you take a drug to try and become more successful - isn't terribly original.
Most of the movie in any case is just taken up by Cooper or his girlfriend running away from things. One of the bad guys, "The Man in the Tan Coat" is almost comically robotic in the chase scenes which doesn't help. They could and should have made much more of the big- pharma conspiracy subplot.
The ending however, is absolutely inspired. Just when you think the movie is heading towards a moralistic "drugs can't make you successful" denouement, Cooper gets away with everything scot-free! He gets the girl and the career and supposedly eliminates the side-effects of the drug. It's brilliantly clever compared to the typical double or triple twists you get in most movies nowadays. The new Hollywood twist is there is no twist!