I just don't recommend you to watch it using more than 20% of your brain

Rating: 6/10 (27 June 2011)

I don't know how to say this without going too far or being very misunderstood. Limitless is a terrible, terrible movie. Not the kind of movie that should burn but the one that is disappointing because of a lot of stupidity. Okey, I went too far. Despite all I disliked from the film, it is very entertaining. I loved the concept story, I just think it's poorly constructed and some how insulting to my intelligence. Bradley Cooper plays Eddie Morra an unemployed writer who has lost his track. He has a book contract but no inspiration. His life is so unorganized he simply looks like he's living in the street. Not even his girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish) is up for this anymore. All this suddenly changes when he is introduced by his ex-brother in law (Johnny Whitworth) to an experimental drug the guys in the lab call NZT-48.
What this drug does? It let's you use 100% of your brain. First, it is not true that humans only use certain portion of brain power. What I guess they mean is it makes you smarter. Something that is possible, though not in the present time.
Needless to say, under the influence of the drug Eddie becomes some sort of Übermensch. He writes his novel in a few days, he's constantly focus, learns foreign languages with ease and remembers everything he has ever read, seen or heard. He is the man! NZT-48 enhanced him.
As any modern male with no girlfriend, at first, Eddie used his new powers to get chicks and outshine experts in cultural circles he would've never been allowed. He's just running wild until he forms the idea where to use his abilities. The financial market.
Without going into more details I'll just add that here we are presented Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro), apparently one of the most powerful man in the country, who is naturally interested in Eddie's abilities. As expected, he plays his part very cool.
I also liked Andrew Howard occasional appearances as the gangster who tasted Eddie's secret power pill and torments him in search for more.
Director Neil Burger did some very cool takes with the fish lens, though I didn't get the use (maybe he wanted to show that Eddie had a wider perception?). Also the use of intermittent full color gives the film a very nice touch. Except for some totally unnecessary scenes, I think he did good job delivering an entertaining summer flick.
In conclusion if you're after a thriller to watch this days this one won't leave you feeling you lost your money. I just don't recommend you to watch it using more than 20% of your brain because limitless is a very limited movie that doesn't consider the implications of such a medication on the real world.