3 stars (out of 5)
Director: Neil Burger
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Carl Van Loon, Abbie Cornish, Andrew Howard, Anna Friel, Johnny Whitworth
Rating: (M)
After a chance meeting on a New York street, struggling sci-fi writer Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) is handed a mysterious pill that supposedly is the latest and greatest IQ supplement. You have to accept that Eddie's life really is bleak, because with barely a question he pops the pill and taps into his superhuman other.
Borrowing a concept from Aldous Huxley's Doors of Perception, the drug, known as NZT, lights up neural pathways, allowing users to connect with parts of the brain previously unused. Enhanced Eddie takes a break from writing sci-fi pulp to devise complex algorithms that decipher the machinations of the stock market.
This speaks volumes for the value placed on commerce over the arts. For some reason, his soon-to-be published book is shelved in favour of making a quick buck on the futures exchange.
But Eddie's synthetic friend soon becomes his crutch, as his life depends on finding the next fix.
Limitless is an energising ride, but is compromised by playing too safe within the formula. Add some lamentable clichés such as pursuing eastern European thugs, and Limitless undoes some of the great work established by Cooper's charismatic lead, and the visual panache of director Neil Burger.
The further down the rabbit hole Eddie descends, the greater the plot holes become, and we are left with more questions than answers. Still, it is well worth the trip if you like clever set-ups, solid acting and a bullocking soundtrack.
Best thing: Visually realising the hyper-real chemically induced state.
Worst thing: Glaringly obvious plot holes.
See it with: Anyone fascinated with conspiracy theories and the potential of neurochemistry.
- Mark Orton
