The Current War: Director's Cut

PG-13

Released Oct 25, 2019

1h 41m

History

Drama

Biography

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for The Current War: Director's Cut

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61%

108 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

1,000+ Verified Ratings

Audience Score

Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse -- the greatest inventors of the industrial age -- engage in a battle of technology and ideas that will determine whose electrical system will power the new century. Backed by J.P. Morgan, Edison dazzles the world by lighting Manhattan. But Westinghouse, aided by Nikola Tesla, sees fatal flaws in Edison's direct current design. Westinghouse and Tesla bet everything on risky and dangerous alternating current.

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Critics Consensus

If it lacks the powerful voltage that its impressive cast suggests, The Current War: Director's Cut represents a significant improvement over previous versions.

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MASSIE

It felt like watching a 2 hour lecture in a college classroom. LOTS of information, LOTS of detail but what is the STORY? Why should I care?? Where is the emotion? It was like the director took the most important events between Edison Westinghouse and Tesla and then dramatized them and as quick as he could. I felt no emotional connection with the story or the characters at all. The camera work was different but not superb. The acting was above average but there on the screen long enough to make you care about anyone or any thing. It was there and then it was gone. The director needs a long course in pacing and structure and the Protagonist vs. Antagonist give and take, cause that was difficult to figure here. Was Edison the protagonist? Or was it Westinghouse? Or was Edison the Antagonist? It all gets very confusing and the director never makes a decision because I dont think he could decide. When you make it soft all the way around and you dont really hold anyone to account or you paint Edison out to be in some ways and then good in some ways, but none of it matters now because he invented film and the movies? The film is ALL OVER THE PLACE and feels like something directed by 8 different people and shot by 12 different directors of photography. I would not waste my time sitting through it again, but for students in high school or college, its a great source of history.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/09/19

Full Review

DrMarte

The film revealed several things I didn’t know, especially about Thomas Edison.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/25/19

Full Review

Audience Member

I caught this film about the introduction of electrical current and the disputes about AC and DC between Edison, Westinghouse, and Tesla just before the end of its theatrical run. This adaptation of an interesting story, that does not clearly separate the 'good' from the 'bad', is a bit underwhelming, to be honest. The story-line somehow seems flat without major highs and lows. Both Cumberbatch and Shannon are doing well in the acting department, though.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Rob T

Very interesting! Really enjoyed it!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/20/19

Full Review

Kevin O

A little slow - thought there would be a bit more action.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/20/19

Full Review

James

Excellent movie. Very nice adaptation of historical events

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/15/19

Full Review

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Alfonso Gomez-Rejon

Director

Benedict Cumberbatch

Thomas Edison

Michael Shannon

George Westinghouse

Nicholas Hoult

Nikola Tesla

Katherine Waterston

Marguerite Erskine

Tuppence Middleton

Mary Edison

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Wenlei Ma

News.com.au

Fuelled by impressive performances from a sensational cast, The Current War is a sturdy, well-paced historical drama. The production values - its set design, cinematography, costumes - are particularly winsome.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 6, 2020

Full Review

Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

It's a dizzying menu, aimed at eliminating any hint of fustiness and show that this is a story as modern as the rivalry between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. And I suppose it is. But it's also absorbing enough not to need any artificial means of support.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 18, 2020

Full Review

Stephen Romei

The Australian

This is an interesting, well-filmed historical drama about a technological showdown that produced something we now all take for granted, as Edison predicted we would

Rated: 3/5

Mar 13, 2020

Full Review

M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

An electric battle of wits with a script that offers only a surface level, uneven treatment of its three subjects.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 22, 2022

Full Review

Laura Potier

Outtake Mag

An illuminating tale in need of more direct (narrative) current.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 16, 2021

Full Review

Kip Mooney

College Movie Review

In a world of staid biopics ... I'm pleasantly surprised that The Current War is an electric film (pun intended).

Rated: B+

Aug 12, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse -- the greatest inventors of the industrial age -- engage in a battle of technology and ideas that will determine whose electrical system will power the new century. Backed by J.P. Morgan, Edison dazzles the world by lighting Manhattan. But Westinghouse, aided by Nikola Tesla, sees fatal flaws in Edison's direct current design. Westinghouse and Tesla bet everything on risky and dangerous alternating current.

Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Producer: Benedict Cumberbatch, Adam Ackland, David Glasser, Bob Weinstein, Garrett Basch, Steven Zaillian, Martin Scorsese, Michael Mitnick, Ann Ruark
Screenwriter: Michael Mitnick
Distributor: 101 Studios
Production Co: The Weinstein Company, Thunder Road Pictures, Film Rites
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Some Violent Content)
Genre: History, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 25, 2019, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 15, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.0M
Runtime: 1h 41m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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