There are movies made with fantastic premises that you just want to see. The previews make them out to be something new and original and thrilling. And then you see them and think wow…that was…okay. Unfortunately most movies just don’t live up to the hype. Such was the case with LIMITLESS, a good movie but one that just wasn’t great.
Bradley Cooper stars as Eddie Morra, a down on his luck writer with one mediocre novel published and a case of writer’s block. Just when he thinks things can’t get worse, his girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish) dumps him. Walking down the street after she turns him lose, he comes across an old “friend”, the brother of his ex-wife (of one day) Vernon (Johnny Whitworth).
Back in the day Vernon was a dealer and Eddie wants nothing to do with him. But he seems cleaned up, cleanly dressed and doing well for himself. During lunch he passes a new drug to Eddie, tells him that it’s about to be FDA approved and that it will help him. The drug helps the person taking it use their entire brain potential. While its said human’s only use perhaps 20% of their brain, this one kicks in the entire 100%.
On his way to his apartment Eddie takes the drug thinking he has nothing to lose and runs into his landlord’s girlfriend on the steps. As she berates him for not having the rent, the drug kicks in and he not only talks his way out of the chastising but beds the girlfriend as well. The drug actually works. So much so that Eddie changes his lifestyle, writes the book he was working on in 2 days and it turns out to be perhaps one of the greatest books ever written.
Then he comes down off the drug. He finds Vernon to get more and Vernon now has Eddie where he wants him, doing his bidding. Eddie sets out to get Vernon’s dry cleaning only to return and find Vernon with a hole in his head and the apartment trashed. Whoever showed didn’t get what they came for, Vernon’s stash of the drug. But Eddie figures out where it is and becomes a regular user.
He gets his life back on track, learns languages in less than a day, wins back his old girlfriend and starts a new life for himself, all with this limited supply of pills. He cashes in on financing, goes to work for his broker and is introduced to one of the top moneymen in the country, Carl Van Loon (Robert DeNiro). This leads to a job with Van Loon and the chance to turn what he’s learned into millions if not billions for the company and himself. It also gives him access to possibly having someone make more of the drug.
But it all comes at a cost. The loan shark who gave him the money to invest originally now is taking the drug and wants more. And whoever it was that killed Vernon is trying to find him as well. Eddie has risen from the worst position possible to the highest and yet still has problems, just different ones, ones that could cost him his life.
The movie has a terrific look to it, clean and sleek and fast. When the drug kicks in we look through the eyes of Eddie as well as from the outside, seeing that things move so much faster in his mind that the world seems to be in slow motion. And while Eddie’s brain increases in capability, he doesn’t seek to do harm to anyone but rather intends to do nothing more than take care of himself and those that matter to him. But as they say the best intentions…
Cooper does a great job, shifting in acting modes as well as appearances from the down and out Eddie to the more successful one. He carries off the performance well and is completely believable. Cornish feels as if she’s just there and DeNiro makes the most of what is essentially a supporting role.
For all the great story that is found here it just comes off as a decent flick that doesn’t completely fulfill it’s potential. Perhaps that’s just my expectations not being met, but I just felt that the movie was nothing more than another in a long line of films that are entertaining but not memorable. And honestly, there don’t seem to be that many being made any longer.
The movie is an enjoyable film that will keep you guessing until the end. And the ending itself was one of the best I’ve seen in some time. So if you’re looking for a solid movie to rent this week then by all means give this one a try. It may not stick in your mind forever but it will give you a pleasant night watching a movie.
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