About the film (courtesy of 101 Studios):
Benedict Cumberbatch is Thomas Edison, the celebrity inventor on the verge of bringing electricity to Manhattan with his radical new DC technology. On the eve of triumph, his plans are upended by charismatic businessman George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon), who believes he and his partner, the upstart genius Nikolai Tesla (Nicholas Hoult), have a superior idea for how to rapidly electrify America: with AC current. As Edison and Westinghouse grapple for who will power the nation, they spark one of the first and greatest corporate feuds in American history, establishing for future Titans of Industry the need to break all the rules.
Filled with a more than capable cast, The Current War: Director’s Cut is able to take a rather humdrum script and turn it into something rather enjoyable. Leading the charge is Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison, who once again is tasked with taking on the role of a man that has no qualms about letting everyone know that he is the smartest person in the room. Just as he did with BBC’s Sherlock, Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and Marvel’s Doctor Strange (2016), Cumberbatch exerts the trait of overbearing intelligence in such a way that he becomes equally loved and loathed throughout his performance.
Michael Shannon stars opposite Cumberbatch as his primary rival, George Westinghouse. Shannon brings with him his signature dryness to his character of Westinghouse, but also a compassionate side that Edison sorely lacks. Then there’s the enigmatic Nikolai Tesla, portrayed by Nicholas Hoult and an understated Samuel Insull, with Tom Holland filling those shoes. These four men couldn’t be any different from one another in terms of their approach to the business at hand, yet they are all extremely gifted in their own way.
While The Current War: Director’s Cut is obviously aiming to entertain its audience, there is also a fair amount of education present as well. There are aspects about these talented historical figures that many of us didn’t really know about. What makes this feature worth seeing is how it takes factual (and sometimes boring, sometimes too geeky) information and repackages it into a form that should appeal to general audiences. Nowadays, we totally take electricity for granted. This movie takes you back to a time when it was just getting started.
Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon is able to re-edit and add a few additional scenes to better reflect his final vision and The Current War: Director’s Cut represents the fruit of his labor. While not close to a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, the story is interesting enough to pull you in and the solid acting will hold your attention when you’re there. Personally, I could have done without all of the sensationalized cinematography, but it didn’t ruin the movie. Taking up less than two hours of your time, The Current War<: Director's Cut/strong> can and will provide viewers with a positive light on a pivotal time in history. See it in theaters today.
