Interesting concept but it felt that it could have been a lot more.

Rating: 7/10 (6 January 2017)

Reviewed July 2011
It vaguely reminded me of Groundhog Day at some level. It taps into everybody's dream of being super smart and skipping the lengthy process of learning and having an answer to everything.
A lazy unmotivated and just got dumped Eddie comes across a pill that can make him very smart and suddenly his life changes for good. But to sustain it, he needs regular supply of the pills and he is not the only one looking for them and those who are, are willing to go to any lengths to get their hands on them.
Bradley Cooper lands a solo star role and does a decent job at it. Robert DeNiro is present only to beef up the openings had Bradley not clicked, anyone could've done DeNiro's role. Seeing Abbie Cornish for the first time, she was terrific especially in the initial breakup scene.
The plot as it's title tries to take the premise to explore limitless options but ends up going in circles for a little while. A movie can either be a thriller or a mystery, the one that tries to be both needs exceptional handling or might end up in mediocrity. This one falls a little to the latter. Moving on to positive aspects of the movie, it had exceptional presentation, apt performances but a little confused direction with an end that left a lot to be desired.
It is still an entertaining thriller for most part of it, which definitely could've been a lot more.