A great all-around show

Rating: 9/10 (30 December 2011)

Wow, these guys really know how to make a great movie. A very intriguing idea, a wonder drug which can make the user a virtual potentate, with some unfortunate side effects. The actors do a good job in bringing out the well-written story.
Edward "Eddie" Morra (Bradley Cooper) is a writer who lives in New York City. He has recently been dumped by his girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish) in addition to failing to meet the deadline to turn in his new book, which he hasn't started yet. One day, Eddie comes across Vernon Gant (Johnny Whitworth), the brother of his ex-wife, Melissa Gant (Anna Friel). Vernon is a drug dealer, and he offers Eddie a sample of a new (fictional) nootropic drug, NZT-40, claiming it allows humans to access 100% of the brain's power, as opposed to the "normal" 20%. Eddie accepts, and, much to his surprise, the drug does indeed work, putting him into a manic state, and enabling him to write the first 90 pages to his book, exciting his publisher.
The movie goes on to detail the positive, and negative effects of the powerful elixir. It kind of makes the viewer wonder "what if" such a drug did exist and it's effect on society.