Review: Limitless

Plot: Struggling writer Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) is going nowhere. Broke, depressed, and suffering a severe case of writers block, Eddie's future prospects look hopeless. That is until his ex-brother in law shows up offering a drug that allows Eddie to access his full brain potential. But fame, wealth, and success all have a price and the final bill may end up costing Eddie his life.

Review: If anyone had any lingering doubts that Bradley Cooper could carry a film on his own, think again. The actor best known for his role as Phil in The Hangover finally breaks through in director Neil Burger's surprise hit Limitless. Based on the novel The Dark Fields by Alan Glynn, Limitless is as visceral and exciting as it is fast-paced, squarely in the vein of the 1968 classic film Charly.

What makes Limitless a gigantic leap forward for Cooper is the true development of his character Eddie. Usually placed in the role of wise cracking eye candy, Cooper's Eddie is initially a schlub. Dirty and depressed, Cooper expertly pulls off the socially awkward loser act. Bradley Cooper shows a more vulnerable side in Limitless as Eddie is truly a desperate man. Dumped by his girlfriend, unable to write a creative word, out of money, Eddie reeks of desperation...among other things. It is that very desperation that pushes Eddie to take Vernon's (Johnny Whitworth's) wonder drug NZT.

And that's when the transformation begins. Suddenly Eddie Morra "knows everything about everything." From the finer points of law, to finishing his novel in four days, to doubling his ivestments day after day; Eddie literally has the power to do anything.

Director Neil Burger (The Illusionist) along with cinematographer Jo Willems, do a fantastic job with Limitless from a visual standpoint. When Eddie's on the drug the lighting is literally glowing and all visual components seem ramped up to the nth degree. It's a clear reflection of being "in the zone" as athletes often refer to. In contrast when Eddie is off the drug things appear drab and out of focus.

Burger keeps the pace of Limitless moving fluidly, easily showing how Eddie shifts from author, to finance wizard, to the realization of what he is really meant to do with NZT. However, the frenetic pace of Limitless doesn't stop Burger from getting the message across that knowledge, and the power that comes with it, can be just as addicting a drug as heroin. The risks of true self-actualization can be worse than the rewards. The scene where Eddie confronts his girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish) at her place of work is harrowing. Eddie at that point has been off NZT for days and is going through a withdrawal on par with the worst narcotic. This scene is hands down the best acting of Bradley Cooper's career.

Like the side effects of NZT, Limitless has its drawbacks. Burger I thought played up the "drug in the wrong hands" situation a little bit too much. One of the sub-plots is the drug being co-opted by Gennady, (Andrew Howard) a sadistic Russian loan shark. While Howard was good in the role and it made for some interesting moments, it also led to a scene toward the end that had me groaning "Give me a break" worse than that guy on the Charles Schwab commercial reacting to the prospect of owning a vineyard when he retires. Also while Abbie Cornish was strong as Lindy, she wasn't in the film nearly as much as she could have been leaving little room for character development. You notice I haven't mentioned Robert De Niro much so far. That's because he totally phoned in his performance of businessman Carl Van Loon. You know the days of Raging Bull are far in the past if you look like a candle flame next to the sun opposite Bradley Cooper.

While Limitless does have its limitations (eh-hem) it's a great thriller, highly entertaining, and a fantastic coming out party for the artist formerly know as Wil from Alias.

My rating: 8/10