Fast-paced Thriller

Review by Washington Times

We all know guys like Eddie Moran (Bradley Cooper). They’re clever and always seem to have a plan in mind to get rich without much effort. But for some reason (mostly their own shortcomings) they always fall short. In Eddie’s case, many days and lots of dollars short.

As “Limitless” begins, Eddie is down and nearly out - until his ex-brother-in-law shares some truly “mind expanding” news: an experimental drug called NZT that allows anyone taking it to remember any and everything they’ve ever read, experienced or been exposed to. Soon, Eddie is using his new brain power to become a wizard of Wall Street. He amasses a small fortune and wins back the affections of his former girlfriend, Lindy (Abbie Cornish).

He also begins attracting the attention of corporate titan Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro), who wants to know the whiz kid’s secret, and a loan shark whom Eddie used to owe money. Things get even more dangerous when Eddie’s only contact for his wonder drug disappears - and unexpected side effects surface.
Director Neil Burger and screenwriter Leslie Dixon (“Hairspray,” “Pay It Forward”) have adapted Alan Glynn’s science fiction novel into an imaginative and fast-paced thriller, a journey into the power and dangers of the unlimited, unleashed mind. Mr. Cooper is quite good as the movie’s “every guy” hero, who’s just trying to make a slightly better life and gets in way over his head. Mr. De Niro slyly underplays Van Loon, which allows some of the plot’s concluding twists to play out quite nicely.

The DVD’s extras and features include a “making of” short, an alternative ending and an unrated version of the film. Blu-ray extras are a “how to” feature on viewing the digital copy and the digital copy itself.
“Limitless,” along with the recently released “Adjustment Bureau” and the soon-to be-released “Source Code,” proves Hollywood can turn out quality mainstream science fiction films. Perhaps the studio executives need to “expand” their minds a bit. Rating: PG-13 for profanity, violence, sexual and drug content.