Bradley Cooper portrayed a struggling writer.
Bradley Cooper . Cooper 's portrayal of a struggling writer in the thriller Limitless ( 2011 ) and a rookie police officer in the crime drama The Place Beyond the Pines ( 2012 ) drew praise from critics . Limitless (film) . The events portrayed in the film follow Edward Morra , a struggling writer , who is introduced to a nootropic drug called NZT-48 , which gives him the ability to fully utilize his brain and vastly improve his lifestyle .