Limitless

Charlie Gordon, the hero of the classic novel Flowers For Algernon, learned the hard way why getting smarter artificially stunk. You’d think that Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper), the hero of Limitless, would know better.

Morra is a failing writer and lover; he’s behind on his new novel, was married for all of five minutes to Melissa (Anna Friel), and now dumped by Lindy (Abbie Cornish). Melissa’s brother Vernon (Johnny Witworth) offers him a solution in NZT-48, a new brain-boosting miracle drug.

One pill later, and Eddie Morra, struggling writer, is now Eddie Morra, the smartest man in New York. He also becomes the financial advisor of businessman Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro). Yet, his newfound intelligence depends on his stash of NZT-48. Someone else wants it too, and they’ll kill to get it.

There are a few people responsible for this cinematic rendition of Alan Glynn’s novel The Dark Fields. They are director Neil Burger, writer Leslie Dixon, and the editors Tracy Adams and Naomi Geraghty. The editors, along with cinematographer Jo Willems, give the film a uniquely trippy visual style that’s simply amazing.

As our hero, Bradley Cooper’s performance is a great benefit. Throughout the film, he presents Eddie as a charismatic, likeable guy. Despite any shortcomings, he’s simply one you want to succeed. It’s this performance that lets the film’s premise work on screen.

It’s not exactly sci-fi, and it’s very much a thriller; I’ve seen it called a “techno-thriller.” Whatever you call it, Limitless is a visual experience that’s worth remembering.