The Current War- Director’s Cut is the latest version of the biopic telling of the story of the race to provide electricity to the nation by Thomas Edison (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon).
Honestly, not knowing much about this, I had thought that the trailers made it look as if Nikola Tesla (Nicholas Hoult) played a bigger role in the rivalry and that Westinghouse was more of the side character. That is just opposite as Michael Shannon’s role was much more important to this story than was Hoult’s.
There was a tremendous cast here with Cumberbatch, Shannon, Hoult and including Tom Holland, Tuppence Middleton and Katherine Waterston, The acting was fine. There just seemed to be lacking some of that electricity to the film.
Don’t get me wrong… it is fine. It is just missing that spark that could have made this hit more like lightning and spawn some energy to light up the screen.
Okay, enough of the electricity puns… before you get all charged up and bolt out of here (last one, I promise).
Tuppence Middleston’s Mary Edison was one of my favorite parts of the film and her sad story was a highlight. I would have liked more of an emphasis on that, but I do know that it was superficial to the actual Current War. It just provided some emotional pop to a story that could have used more.
Apparently, this film got caught up in the whole Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment mess as it was intended to be released originally in 2017 and was going to have a huge Oscar push. I do not think they have to wonder about an Oscar push for this film.
The Current War was, at best, passable with a strong cast giving adequate performances in a script that undersold most everything. It might be a good watch for those historical buffs out there, but I am sure that others would find it, perhaps, competent.
