Limitless

Rating: 7/10 (24 July 2011)

I was rather keen to see this film when I saw it advertised at the cinema, it looked and sounded worth trying, but by the time I thought about it I was too late, but thank goodness when I got the opportunity I wasn't going to miss it again, from director Neil Burger (The Illusionist). Basically in New York City writer Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) who has recently had girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish) leave him, and he is due to turn in a new book to his publisher but he has not even started one yet. One day he comes across drug dealing Vernon Gant (Johnny Whitworth), brother of his ex-wife Melissa (Pushing Daisies' Anna Friel), and he gives him a sample of new experimental intelligence enhancing drug NZT-48, he claims it increases the normal 20% of brain power to the full 100%. Eddie is surprised to find it actually works as he manages to finish his book, and naturally he wants more of these crystal clear pills, and Vernon agrees as long as he runs some errands for him, which he is happy to do. He returns to his apartment however and finds Vernon murdered, so he calls the police, but he is sure they were looking for the NZT-48, so he finds it before anyone else can, and he finds a stash of cash with them too. Using the money and these pills Eddie starts to change his fortunes for the better, as well as learning new skills, such as foreign languages and physical activities in the speedy process the pills provide. Realising he can make a lot of money with his newfound intelligence he gives up writing to instead start trading stocks, starting with borrowing a big amount of cash from Russian mafia thug Gennady (Andrew Howard), and becoming rich very quickly he gets hired by powerful businessman Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro). Despite also getting back with Lindy, things soon start to go bad when Eddie takes more pills a day, and finds himself being followed by a man in a coat (Tomas Arana), who he may have tried to contact to find out more about the drug from, and side effects start occurring, such as memory loss, lost time and heart palpitations. He suffers NZT-48 hangovers, and seeing news footage about a woman he remembers meeting being dead, he is overly worried he may have been involved without realising, he finds out also ex-wife Melissa dated an addict of the drug, warning him to cut down or die. Cutting down to an acceptable level, and trying to find a reverse drug for NZT-48, Eddie is near to making a deal with Hank Atwood (Richard Bekins) until the man falls ill, and the man in the coat is revealed to be wanting to steal the drugs. Gennady also returns with two thugs trying to kill him, but Eddie manages to kill them first, at one point drinking blood that is filled with the drug influence, and after Atwood dies he joins the man in the coat to steal more of the drug from Eddie's lawyer Brandt (Ned Eisenberg). A year passes and Eddie's book has been published, and he is now running to become Senator, and Carl approaches him, revealing he knows about his NZT-48 drug taking, he offers him an unlimited supply of it, but Eddie refuses saying they have had a permanent effect of intelligence on him and he doesn't need that, but you wonder if that claim is true with the ending. Also starring Robert John Burke as Pierce, Darren Goldstein as Kevin Doyle, Ned Eisenberg as Morris Brandt and T.V. Carpio as Valerie. Cooper does really well in the leading role as the loser who becomes super intelligent with every pill he swallows, De Niro does alright in his slightly minor part, and the supporting cast members do good too. I was very impressed by the effects of the film as wee see the inventive camera illusions and sweep through sequences rushing forwards through the streets and crowds of New York, and POV shots looking around while under the influence of the drugs, I enjoyed the first half more so than the up and down second half, but overall it is certainly an adrenaline filled science-fiction thriller. Very good!