Though I will always remember him for his role as the sleazy villain in 2005’s Wedding Crashers, Bradley Cooper will always be most strongly associated with 2009’s surprise hit The Hangover. Ever since he stood out as the sarcastic leader of “the wolfpack,” Cooper’s popularity and success in Hollywood has been skyrocketing, despite a few significant missteps; still, Limitless would represent his first chance to headline a release as the singular lead character. In addition to Cooper’s star-power, two elements helped generate considerable buzz for this stylized techno-thriller, the first being the distinct premise and the second involving the inclusion of Hollywood heavyweight Robert De Niro. The idea of a pill that could turn anyone into a super-genius was sure to play to the fantasies of countless audiences, while De Niro’s fan-base would no doubt delight in seeing him play a villainous Wall Street Shark. Trailers promised a smart and unique thriller, and as a fan of both actors, I had high hopes for Limitless.
I knew that Limitless was going to be entertaining, but in the end I was still pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the final product. Bradley Cooper goes above and beyond proving that he can do far more than just try and recover from a wild night in Vegas, as his energy and charisma on-screen grabs the audience early on and refuses to let go until the end credits roll. Robert De Niro also shines as the white-collar antagonist, using his experience to grant the character the perfect threatening demeanor; he and Cooper end up playing off each other quite well. The imaginative story blends suspense, mystery, and a surprising amount of humor, all of which are only enhanced by clever cinematography and a distinct production design. Unfortunately, the energetic pacing of the film lets a few too many plot elements slip through the cracks and generate questions that ultimately go unanswered, but in all likelihood audiences will be so charmed by the film that they should be more than willing to forgive this mild discrepancy.
For more information, please read the full review.
Overall Recommendation: Very High
