Limitless

Release Date: Mar 18, 2011 

Runtime: 1 hr. 45 min. 

Director: Neil Burger 

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Abbie Cornish, Anna Friel, Johnny Whitworth.

One pill = endless possibilities. That’s the setup in “Limitless,” a cerebral thriller that bends the mind, senses and imagination. Shedding his “Hangover” persona, Bradley Cooper seizes his first starring vehicle with sheer magnitude. He plays Eddie, a down-on-his-luck writer, who leads a rather mundane and unfulfilled life. But this all changes dramatically when he gains access to a pill that allows the user to utilize 100% of the brain's functions. From unkempt writer to power-hungry businessman, Cooper shows his versatility and range with apt fluidity. In a “Requiem for a Dream” approach, the film excels in the visual terrain. Spiraling like an acid trip through colors and imagery, but producing a wicked overdose that will leave you wanting for more. That being said, it doesn't come without side effects. The story, while stimulating, does forgo any logic despite being awfully intellectual. Plot holes and unnecessary villains fill the gaps between the doses and financial jargon. Yet the attuned narration and character awareness allows for a sleek ride through the mind when all else fails. So you can ask yourself: ‘what if a pill can make you rich and powerful?’ But the real question is: would you take it?

Rating: 3½ stars