Limitless (2011)

Bradley Cooper stars -- a nice combination of smarmy and charming -- as slovenly, loser writer Eddie Morra. He's supposedly at work on a sci-fi novel, but he can't quite motivate himself to write a single word. His girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish) gets tired of this and breaks up with him. An old acquaintance gives him a pill that suddenly makes everything clear, giving him extraordinary levels of concentration and knowledge. He gets hold of an entire supply of pills and sets out to satisfy his desire for more money and power. Unfortunately, loan sharks and Wall Street goons are after him, as well as thugs involved with the drug's illegal manufacture. Worst of all, he becomes mixed up with a financial wizard (Robert De Niro) that may be more dangerous than any of them. Can Eddie ever get his life back? Does he want to?

Among Burger's more effective head-trip tricks, including a lighting scheme that visually illustrates the effects of the drug, as well as an awesome, dazzling sequence depicting an 18-hour blackout that the hero experiences while on the drug.

The movie more or less taps into a general human dissatisfaction and offers a vicarious lift; it's escapist entertainment at its best. Meanwhile, Burger guides Cooper through an appealing performance, and he's matched by De Niro in a snaky supporting role, as well as many other terrific turns in smaller parts. It's a very satisfying entertainment made out of a strong, and all-too-rare combination of sci-fi ideas and human emotions.

The new Blu-ray from Fox Home Video comes with an "unrated" version (less than one minute longer) as well as the theatrical cut. Extras include two featurettes, an alternate ending, a trailer, and a commentary track by director Neil Burger. A second disc holds a digital copy of the movie.