Ever thought what would happen if you could use your full potential?

 

Limitless

"Limitless" is only concerned about one thing and that is being really clever. 

This is one of the only movies that has come out recently that has successfully ran with a cool idea by avoiding throwing in all sorts of unnecessary nonsense. The script is well written by Leslie Dixon based off of the novel "The Dark Fields" by Alan Glynn, Bradly Cooper ("The A-Team", "The Hangover") was well casted, and Director Neil Burger raps it together into smart entertaining fun. Cooper plays a man named Eddie Mora who is an aspiring failure of a writer. He has just gotten dumped by his girlfriend Lindy and doesn't know where to turn. This leads him to a chance encounter with his ex-wife Melissa's brother Vernon who is known for being involved in the drug game. After a brief meeting, Morra is given a sample of a new drug called NZT-48 that is supposed to open up his brain allowing him to use his full brain capacity increasing his focus and intellect. At first he is very sceptical, however, he is curious and knows that he needs to do something to get out of his downwardly self destructive life he is leading. Needless to say he takes the pill opening up a world of achievement, greed, and danger that is limitless. His life is back on track as he gets his girlfriend Lindy back and is becoming a multi-millionaire, however, things start spiralling downwards again – can the smartest man alive solve his issues? – read on to find out. 

 

Eddie Morra was a character perfectly written for Bradley Cooper, as Bradley Cooper portrays success whenever you see him. He has a massive female following and men want to be him, he is good looking, funny and has been in some massive blockbuster hits, this sort of actor is who you want to play the leading character in a film like ‘Limitless’. Without Cooper "Limitless" would lose its charismatic vibe and would not be nearly as good, purely on the basis I feel that Bradley didn’t have to ‘try’ and be the ‘the guy on the pill’ he already is, of course, minus the full brain power! 

The film itself is very captivating and does not have a dull moment, which is rather good, as I can imagine, being on NZT-48, never has a dull moment as your brain is working overtime. It achieves this with consistent nonstop strings of entertaining sequences (such as learning the piano, or learning a language just from ear) together with cutting edge CGI film editing. A good example of this would be when Bradley was on NZT-48 and he audience got to see his train of thought and experience with him, his ‘Out of Body’ experience / thought process. Another plus point to this film is Bradley’s counterpart in the film, Robert De Niro as a big-time businessman, although, I must say, it was by no means, he’s best performance, it was an easy film for De Niro, whether it was the script or maybe the character created for him, he was not stretched at all in the role.

 

First of all many viewers may say that the story has been told before, however, this does not affect the movie. One problem that the film does have is failing to fully explain the role of certain characters. Some characters are overlooked very quickly and as the movie turns towards new developments most evident with Robert John Burke's character Pierce. Also, Abbie Cornish's casting as Morra's girlfriend Lindy was not the best choice leading to a very average performance. Yes she does what she is meant to do, however, she doesn’t do much else or offer anything else to the film. I honestly feel that whether she was there or not, wouldn’t have changed the pace, feel or direction of the film in the slightest.

The basic outline of "Limitless's" plot has been seen before, however, this is not just another movie about a junkie who discovers power and is in danger of losing it. Cooper's charm keeps Morra coming back again and again as he finds the answers to his limitless potential.

The movie is clever without being condescending to the audience as maybe a smart person might do. Its edgy, clever and keeps the audience watching – what more can you ask for from a film?

I’d suggest watching Limitless – It will blow your average size mind

7 / 10