Limitless

When will movie characters learn that accepting sweets from strangers never ends well? Twelve years ago Keanu Reeves obediently ate a red jelly bean and realised not only that his life was a computer-simulated lie and two godawful sequels lay ahead of him, but also that he had a burning desire to wear a leather coat previously owned by a 15 year-old goth. If that doesn’t make the kids ‘Just Say No’, I don’t know what will.
Admittedly the pitch in Limitless is a little more enticing, as a tiny translucent pill called NZT promises to unlock all of your brain’s potential. Desperate for a high, failed writer Eddie (Bradley Cooper) knocks it back, and instantly becomes an unstoppable genius. Languages, fighting skills and the intricacies of the stock market are mastered in hours, and Eddie is transformed from a worthless, unproductive bum into a charming and intelligent member of the bourgeoisie. But it all comes at a price.
Last month’s financial documentary Inside Job revealed the excess-fuelled lifestyles of Wall Street brokers, explaining how making money and taking drugs stimulates the brain in the same way. So it’s only fitting that as power, fame and notoriety intoxicate the NZT-guzzling Eddie, he wants money. But moving into high finance brings trouble, as his success attracts ruthless hitmen who want in on his secret.
Cooper is great in the lead role, transforming from undesirable scruff to arrogant, swaggering guru effortlessly, and his transformation is heightened by the zany and innovative visuals. Director Neil Berger’s use of fish-eye lenses and a heightened colour palette is invigorating, brilliantly portraying the clarity of Eddie’s mind when on NZT. And as his paranoia sets in, the camera work becomes faster, invoking the frightening and dizzying comedown.
Limitless is to be taken with a large dose of salt, as the deeper questions of morality and psychology posed by its subject matter remain unexplored. And side-effects include some predictable action sequences, an underused Anna Friel and a very specific form of amnesia that may cause you to forget the film within days. But as exciting highs and easy comedowns go, this fast-paced thriller proves an extremely fun little trip.