Limitless (2011)

DIRECTOR: Neil Burger
STUDIO: Relativity Media
STARRING: Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish, Robert De Niro
RATING: PG-13
GENRE: Mystery, Thriller


GRADE: B-



One of the biggest problems in this film is the previews. In every commercial or trailer I've seen of it, you literally have no idea what happens in it. All you ever find out is there's this magic pill that can make you really smart and time-efficient.

Even though that literally is the plot, it's a bit deeper than that. Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) is an author with writer's block who just got broken up with his girlfriend, for basically being a loser, and he meets his ex-brother-in-law, Vernon, on the street. They talk and it's implied that Vernon is a drug-dealer, and he even offers a tiny, clear pill - NZT - to Eddie for free. Eddie declines at first, but eventually when he's alone, he takes it and the world changes around him. He can see, hear, speak, and especially think clearer. He can recall every single memory from his entire life.

The visuals in this film, although very subtle, are stunning! You can tell how enhanced his entire life is, just with one dose of NZT. Even the colors in this film symbolically change how the viewer sees his character.

Bradley Cooper is...okay. I've never really been a fan of his acting, and this doesn't really prove much to me how well he can act. His ex-girlfriend, Abbie Cornish, probably does the worst job of all. Mostly just because she has nothing to do the entire film. It's possibly the direction that was really lukewarm, too.

The dialogue, however, was some of the best I've heard in quite awhile, especially when he's explaining things as he's on NZT. But, some of Cooper's delivery is just a little flat.

Overall, a "B-" is a solid rating on this film, because I did enjoy it, but there're too many flaws that make me want to give it a higher rating.