The Current War

I see here some very offended people among the reviewers who claim that the real story was ignored due to some adversity against the "non-american" inventor Nikola Tesla, who actually invented the AC. They seem to be confused by the fact that the movie doesn't depict the invention of the AC but rather the so call "current war" that took place between two american companies that tried to impose their own vision and business model of how the current should be delivered to the consumer, as DC or as AC. And the two companies involved in this had indeed nothing to do with Nikola Tesla. It is pity that people can't get beyond their obviously biased feelings when it comes to matters of nationality and rather let themselves slip into the the quicksand territory of the conspiracy theories. So, the movie doesn't do injustice at all to anyone it just tells the story as it is supposed to. Go see for yourselves.

Contrary to most of the reviews I saw on this title, I actually really enjoyed the film. I generally am not one to watch historical films, but I made an exception for this one.

I found the acting great, as they portrayed their characters and their feelings in a convincing yet not overwhelming manner. I also found the direction beautiful from the beginning to the end of the film (the lamp scene in the first few minutes,the hotel Tesla stayed in and so on).

Something else I need to note, is the fact that they did not try to sugar coat Edison's character and Tesla's naivity and did not portray Westinghouse as the good guy. They gave the oportunity to the viewers to make up their minds for themselves when it comes to whom they support - if the choose to support anyone.

I feel like they did not pay enough attention to a few historical events and skipped a few crucial parts of the story. I wish they actually gave Tesla the recognition he deserved, but I do understand that a film can not possibly fit the entire story without becoming up mundane.

There were moments that the movie started to become a little tiring, which caused me to lose my focus, but they managed to save it by adding some more exciting scenes in between.

In conclusion, I thought it was a good movie, but I wouldn't recommend it to someone who doesn't really care about the subject. It would be a nice addition to a physics class though, if the teacher is willing and prepared to give some further information on some parts that weren't covered thoroughly or at all.

Little did I ever think I would enjoy a movie about Thomas Edison, (Benedict Cumberbatch, very good), and his 'discovery' of electricity but "The Current War", which pits Edison against the industrialist George Westinghouse, (an even better Michael Shannon), is a real surprise with a smart, witty and engrossing script by Michael Mitnick and fine direction from Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. It's certainly not a film that will find a mass audience but it's one of the better biopics, though strictly speaking it isn't really a biopic and if it is, it's the biography of electricity and not its inventor and it's constructed like a thriller and a chase movie and even though we may know how the chase ends there are enough ups, downs and diversions along the way to keep us entertained. It's also beautifully designed and acted and, no pun intended, it moves at the speed of light and all lovers of cinema will surely get a little lump in their throats by the end.

An upcoming director whose previous film was the indie darling Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, producing work by Russian film heavyweight Timur Bekmambetov and Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese, a cast of some of the most respected talent working today and a true story at its disposal that is loaded with ripe potential, The Current War should have been a contender.

Finished way back in 2017 and scheduled to play out in the awards season period, this one time Harvey Weinstein backed project became an unfortunate victim to the downfall of the big-time producer, given a lifeline years later in what became a low-key cinematic release, anchored down by mediocre reviews that lamented director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon emotion free affair.

To my surprise, The Current War is far from the failure as a product many would have had viewers believe, it surely jams too much content into a brief 100 minute run-time, with Nicholas Hoult's Nicola Tesla given a particular short straw in regards to screen-time and development, but Rejon's energetic direction and constantly moving narrative is never dull and a fine reminder to us all that the technology we take for granted today was at one-time in history a magical invention.

A story that would've been perfectly suited to a mini-series treatment, The Current War examines the life and times of esteemed inventors Tesla, Benedict Cumberbatch's Thomas Edison and Michael Shannon's wealthy businessman George Westinghouse, who all found themselves in the late 1800's competing against one another as humankind discovered the power of electricity, both good and bad.

Throwing us headfirst into the race to light up America and the world, Rejon wastes little time as we find Edison showcasing his significant discovery to an unsuspecting population, with Cumberbatch's finely attuned portrayal of the well-known historical figure one of the highlights of the film and from there we are in the whirlwind of activity as these various men push forward with their ideas and pursuits, often no matter the cost that may be associated with that.

There's some fascinating aspects of this time and movement explored in the film, Edison's reluctance to develop something that may take human lives and Tesla's battles to be taken seriously such elements but nothing is given too much room to breathe by Rejon as he constantly pushes us forward, a reason no doubt why many critics were left unimpressed with a film that stylistically and aesthetically is above average but fails to ignite the heart.

When it comes to the big screen treatment of this subject, The Current War remains one of the more memorable offerings, one that could've been something special but still not the dull mess many would've had us believe it to be.

Final Say -

A solid drama about a fascinating series of subject matters and historical events, The Current War is far from the failure it appeared to be, even if it is unable to become something downright special.

3 1/2 globes out of 5

Hollywood always makes movies that represents Americans (or in this case born-American-capitalist) as a heros, whether that's true or not...Real hero in this "current war" is undoubtedly biggest mind in history of humankind - Serbian scientist Nikola Tesla, who's totally sidelined in America's educational system, while Edison (who stole from him) is a God...This movie doesn't help...Sportswise saying, it's like it you're comparing Jusein Bolt and Justin Gatlin...First one is obviously the best, second one is two-times (caught!!!) cheater, but he's an American, so I doubt that in, say, 15 years from now, if Hollywood decides to make movie about their rivalry, Gatelin would be shown as a villain...I really hope that some day someone will make movie that Tesla really deserves.