Should you SACK a SLACKER, or Factor a BACKER?!...

Rating: 9/10 (11 March 2011)

This movie is based on the Alan Glynn novel "THE DARK FIELDS"  Eddie Morra (BRADLEY COOPER) is a writer. Well, that's what he's "told" people. He'd LIKE to be writing-- especially since he's been given an "advance" to do so. But, he keeps having a writer's "BLOCK", & sits around accomplishing NOTHING really  Yes, he's one of those famous people you read about (from those who do write) called a "SLACKER". His apartment and personal appearance also express how his mind is feeling, in that they too are sadly disorganized & unkempt. His girlfriend Lindy (ABBIE CORNISH) is "fed-up" with it all, & CALLS OFF their relationship  By chance, Bradley meets Vernon (JOHNNY WHITWORTH), the brother of Melissa (ANNA FRIEL)-- an ex-wife he'd had. Johnny was looking strangely well-to-do, & Bradley thinks it's because of the old illegal "black market" activities he'd engaged in.
But Johnny said no, it was all thanks to "NZT"-- a supposedly soon-to-be-"approved" PILL he'd gotten an "advance" connection with. He glowingly describes how it can help "focus" a person's MIND so a person could use ALL his brain-power instead of the usual 20%, & he gives Brad one of the pills (to try to show him his abilities could be "LIMITLESS")  Brad doubts Johnny's claims, but thanks him for the pill Later, he decides to try NZT-- & finds it allows him to get OVER his Writer's Block. He's stunned at what he was able to accomplish, & visits Johnny to try to get MORE of the pills  Johnny's friendly-- but, when Brad returns after doing some errands on his behalf, he finds someone has MURDERED him Brad (using his extra brain power) is able to find Johnny's "stash" of pills, & goes back HOME Soon, he gets some ideas for making money from INVESTMENTS, & starts doing very well at that  Hoping he can extend his "streak" at success, he goes to a Russian mobster named Gennady (ANDREW HOWARD) to get a short-term, high-interest LOAN -- which needs to be paid back promptly or Brad will be deeply "SORRY"!...
Brad is able to learn things (languages & facts) at amazing speed with exceptional understanding, and quickly makes lots more money. In time, he gets to meet big-shot financeer Carl Van Loon (ROBERT De NIRO), feeling he could be his "backer" & provide the "key" to a quantum LEAP in Brad's being financially and socially successful and powerful  But, everything soon starts to expand and "SPIN" out-of-control: Andrew tries to force Brad to provide HIM with more & more of the pills, & keeps his "GOONS" close-by to provide the "or-else!" factor to his demands Robert is very favorably IMPRESSED by Brad's abilities-- but is also very "demanding" in what HE expects  In the midst of all of this, Brad starts having a bunch of adverse "SIDE-EFFECTS" from his use of NZT, & finds he's in-effect put himself on a "treadmill" that he can't really CONTROL very well He confides a bit in Abbie & others, but that doesn't seem to truly "SOLVE" the problems  Will Brad be able to properly MANAGE his use of NZT, or find ways to "improve" it to make it safer and / or more useful and "available"?... Will Brad be able to control ANDREW and his thuggish requirements?... Will he find a way to keep Robert at "arm's length" so he can move "forward" & yet not be under his "THUMB"?...
I was really considerably IMPRESSED with what they were able to accomplish with this film: the acting seems "simple", but all the major characters are able to surprise & PLEASE you with what they turn out  There are lots of TWISTS & TURNS in the story: some of them, I could see "coming" (such as about a proposed merger regarding Robert's company); but others were quite UNexpected in a quite satisfying way. The very END was especially "fulfilling" to me  Thus, since the "deals with the DEVIL(S)" provides such an enjoyable psychological "thriller", I'm rating it as 9.0 out of 10 stars