'Limitless' strangely unsatisfying

Director: Neil Burger

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

Eddie (Cooper, moving into a leading role) is a struggling writer with a shambolic life.

Enter his ex brother-in-law with a pill that Eddie pops – without taking the trouble to find out what, exactly, it’s for – and we’re off on a vapid, ill-constructed thriller that is full of under-developed plotlines.

The pill changes Eddie’s life … colours are brighter, life is better, he becomes super powerful, becomes wealthy, becomes the darling of the Jet Set and successful in everything he merely glances towards.

But what is the sinister story of this remarkable pill, and why are evil killers stalking Eddie? And why is a tycoon (De Niro, who turns up with another of his disinterested performances) lurking in the shadows.

There might have been a strong message brought to us – good against evil, the dangers of chemical dependence, being content with who we are and what we have – but the film is so empty that nothing about it truly engages our attention … in most senses it’s limited.

Star Rating: 2/5