THE CURRENT WAR – Rated PG-13 – 1 hr. 47 mins.

THE CURRENT WAR – Rated PG-13 – 1 hr. 47 mins. 

DIRECTOR:  Alfonso Gomez-Rejon

WRITER:  Michael Mitnick 

STARRING:  Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Tom Holland, Tuppence Middleton, Katherine Waterson, and Nicholas Hoult

Based on the true-life story of Electricity pioneers Thomas Edison (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon), we venture into the past of our great American Society, where up until now, it has only been lit by candlelight…

With Edison (Cumberbatch) in constant inventor mode, every waking minute of his life, he devises a way to create electricity, and a distribution plan for his newly invented electricity too, with the aid of his assistant, Samuel Insull (Tom Holland).

But fellow inventor, and shrewd business tycoon George Westinghouse (Shannon) has a few tricks up his sleeve as well, having invented a more cost-effective electricity source, and a better-developed distribution system too, thus being able to reach significantly more businesses and homes, than Edison’s ever will…

Enter Nikola Tesla, and his own ideas on transforming our world from a world of darkness, into light, as the late 1800’s in America is never going to be the same, with all the genius that is unfolding to light up our world, thus leaving the burning question, who will be one to actually make it to the finish line??

I give THE CURRENT WAR a rating between MUST SEE ON THE BIG SCREEN and WAIT AND CATCH THIS FILM ON DVD!  If you are into inventing, or just enjoy watching history unfold, then this is that one film you are definitely going to want to catch this weekend, at a theater near you!  Watching the “Electricity war” unfold between Edison and Westinghouse is a history lesson like no other, as it goes to show that even if you have the smarts to invent, you must also have loads of business savvy too, if you are going to take over the world! Cumberbatch is excellent as totally engrossed inventor Thomas Edison, who tries to make time for his wife, and children too, but just can’t seem to find a way to reach am acceptable work/life balance.  Shannon is exceptional this time around too, playing business mogul George Westinghouse, who knows his way to generate and distribute electricity to the masses is better, as he faces his own internal struggles too with forcing Edison, and his inventions out, to make way for what our country needs, and wants.  Hoult is also very good to watch in his less significant, but pivotal role as Tesla, joining forces with both Edison and Westinghouse respectively, bringing his genius along for the ride too.   And besides the storyline, the incredible cinematography throughout each and every frame of this film, caught my eye as well, as I felt that it’s focus on exceptional imagery throughout was very apropos for this film, since Edison invented the first motion-picture camera too!  All-in-all, I thoroughly enjoyed THE CURRENT WAR, and its history lesson throughout, but if you aren’t into inventors, or history for that matter, then you might want to skip heading to a theater near you, and wait to catch this film on DVD in a few weeks from now, as it’s fascinating storyline should be experienced by all…I’m just not sure if you’ll agree with the dropping money at the box office to see it, if you aren’t as into history or cinematography as I am…