Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Neil Burger, Relativity Media, M 105 Minutes.
Director Neil Burger’s enthralling action thriller is based on author Alan Glynn’s novel “The Dark Fields’ but renamed to fit in with the film’s title and adapted to the big screen in 2011.
The story revolves around Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper – ‘ The Hangover‘) a down and out author struggling with writer’s block who has also lost his girlfriend, Lindy (Abbie Cornish – ‘ Sucker Punch’).
Fortunately for Eddie he receives a lifeline from Vernon (Johnny Whitworth – ‘Zephyr Springs’) a murdered relative after finding a pill called NZT which has the instant effect of transforming his life immediately.
With his newfound abilities Eddie finishes his book, learns many foreign languages in quick time and then becomes a financial whiz, not realising until later that there is a serious down-side in taking too many pills-which is often the case.
Eddie’s overnight success enables him to get Lindy back but also brings him to the notice of notable business leader Carl Van Loon (legendary actor Robert De Niro – ‘Last Vegas’) which necessitates him to approach a Russian loan shark.
It turns out that Gennady (Andrew Howard – Taken 3’) a greedy Russian is ready to go to great lengths to get hold of Eddie’s life-changing pills resorting to extremely violent methods to achieve his objective.
As pressure mounts on Eddie to access more pills he is reminded of its serious side-effects that culminates in a deadly confrontation with Gennady-and a parting of the ways with the calculating Van Loon in a dramatic concluding scene.
Except for a few flaws in the well-scripted storyline and an anticlimactic conclusion there is still plenty of stimulating action scenes to enjoy in this engaging fantasy film.
This is visually depicted by the steady camera taking the viewer on a roller coaster ride zooming past city blocks and streets within seconds which is mainly due to Eddie’s enhanced speed keeping up with his increasing brain capacity.
Apart from the performances from De Niro and Howard it is Cooper’s portrayal of Eddie and the exceptional special effects that are the major highlights in Burger’s dramatic thriller with the entertainment value being limitless-unless one has another pill!
Limitless is being televised on Channel 9 at 7.30PM on Saturday 26 September.
Vic’s Verdict: 3 ½ Stars
