Movie Review: Limitless

RAPID PACE: Bradley Cooper. Photo / Supplied

Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro face off in this drug-fuelled thriller, and it's hard to work out who comes out on top in the story, or in the acting contest.

The trippy, sleek special effects in the opening titles are an early indication of what to expect here. This is a flashy, sexy and glossy looking film that speeds us seamlessly through New York City, though the effects do get repetitious, and are let down by a plot which isn't quite as clever as it thinks it is.

The film tells the story of a drug addict's highs and lows; the drug of choice here is a revolutionary top secret pharmaceutical called NZT that enables users to access 100 per cent of their brain so they can focus better, master a language in a day and even become good at maths.

If you're Eddie Morra (Cooper), an aspiring author with severe writer's block, and you live in a pigsty and look like you're homeless, then being given one of these clear pills also means you can write your book in four days, tidy up your flat, get a haircut and win back your ex-girlfriend (Abbie Cornish).

It's a particularly impressive drug if you're already smart, and Eddie's a natural on the stuff, charming his way on to Wall St, thanks to his new aptitude for algorithms, with the aim of making a lot of money as quickly as he can.

In between losing track of time, big boozy nights, being stalked by a mysterious killer, and trying to outwit a demanding Russian thug, he catches the eye of one of Wall St's bigwigs, Carl Van Loon (De Niro) who puts his skills to the test.

If this all sounds rushed it's because watching Limitless is a little like being on NZT. While we're left unsure as to how Eddie really got from "loser writer" to "Wall St big timer" the pace of the story
at least keeps the entertainment value high.

There are a couple of little twists along the way, just enough to keep you interested. Then there's the eye candy; Cooper is a smooth enough con-man to get away with this role but his looks, particularly when he's high, threaten to overwhelm his performance.

De Niro starts off in fine form, but in a small supporting role his opportunities to impress are limited.

Stars: 3/5
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Abbie
Cornish, Robert De Niro
Director: Neil Burger
Running time: 106 mins
Rating: M (violence, sexual
references and offensive
language)
Verdict: Simple idea cleverly spun out with special effects and a decent cast

-TimeOut