LIMITLESS

Director: Neil Burger

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Anna Friel, Abbie Cornish

BRADLEY Cooper is building up quite a decent CV. What with the Hangover franchise, the A-Team and now this very good movie, he’s fast becoming an A-lister.

Despite De Niro’s obvious on-screen charisma, this is Cooper’s movie and he positively shines.

A pat on the back to director Neil Burger (writer and director on The Illusionist) as well who has moulded this story into a quality film, with some very effective though seemingly simple ideas.

Cooper plays Eddie Morra, a man who has pretty much hit rock bottom. He has little personality, lives in near slum conditions and is using up an advance for a book, though he hasn’t actually written a word.

One day he meets his ex-wife’s brother who gives him a tablet - and his life suddenly changes.

This drug allows him to use 100 per cent of his brain (as opposed to the 20 per cent we apparently only tap into).

Life becomes more colourful (literally - a nice touch from the director) and all kinds of possibilities open up. He also gets a decent haircut.

However, on the down side, some very unpleasant characters enter his life and the drug does have some rather unwanted side-effects.

The result is an excellent action thriller that rattles along at a good pace.

Burger ensures there’s no lull, using some great camera techniques to keep the audience’s attention.

De Niro is on top form and there’s good support from Friel as Morra’s ex-missus and Cornish as his on/off girlfriend.

This is simply a quality movie that will keep you entertained from start to finish.

four (and a half) out of five

Steve Payne

Screening courtesy of Cineworld Crawley.