How I imagine the filmmakers pitched Limitless: “It is Charly or Flowers for Algernon, but instead of a mentally disabled guy, it will be a normal schlub, but with more action, sex & flash. It will be awesome.” I like Bradley Cooper, but essentially all his roles are guys who struggle an entire movie to eventually become Bradley Cooper-handsome, smart & personable. I couldn’t turn off my brain during this film and kept thinking that if you could use the majority of your brain, would you really become Michael Douglas in the 80s & hang out with shallow people in an effort to get sex, money & power. Meh, I don’t think so….? On the other hand, what do I know, my brain is only slightly above average. I do think that Bradley Cooper deserves an award of some sort for bringing Robert DeNiro out of his self-parody shell and having real chemistry with him. He doesn’t seem to be cowed by the (former) great one. They work well together & in this film and Silver Linings Playbook, they bring out the best in each other.