Intriguing premise and Bradley Cooper

Rating: 6/10 (13 December 2014)

Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) is on a NYC balcony about to jump. He tells the audience that he has a 4 digit IQ but he missed something. The movie flashes back. Eddie is a blocked writer with a book contract. His girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish) is tired of him and dumps him. He runs into ex-brother-in-law Vernon Gant. Vernon is with a pharmaceutical company and gives him an experimental drug. It activates all of the brain. When Eddie takes it, the effects are impressive and he writes tons of pages. The next day, he tries to get more from Vernon but he finds Vernon killed. Eddie discovers Vernon's stash. He finishes his book, learns everything, makes a killing in the market, and reconnects with Lindy and his ex-wife Melissa Gant (Anna Friel). His success draws the attention of business mogul Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro).
Director Neil Burger is using a lot of visual magic to emulate the effect. He's using blue to simulate the dull everyday world. I don't really like the cold artificial feel to the movie. Also I don't like the movie getting bog down with a business deal. The movie loses tension as it keeps going back to it. There are lots that I do like about the movie. I like Bradley Cooper although I don't necessarily like his character and I don't really like his narration. I find the premise very intriguing. I just wish this was a better movie where I could root for the character and be invested in the story more.