Current Affairs.
107 Mins. Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Tom Holland, Katherine Waterston, Tuppence Middleton, Stanley Townsend & Nicholas Hoult. Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon.
Watt is going on here? This movie isn't about scones? Seriously though this illuminating spectacle is a gem. Lighting up the compelling, iconic imagery of this film with eloquent cinematography that's elementary my dear. Like the moment through the fog in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night were are lead is surrounded by more lightbulbs filament filling the screen than the frame of dressing room mirrors before a show. And what a show this is, as a 'Sherlock' leads the way with an inventing instead of investigational magnify glass. Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg. Those are the type of names millennials follow these days. But turn a light on to this shining and you'll realize we'd be nothing without revolutionaries like Thomas Edison or George Westinghouse. And in this electric, eclectic cast this is 'The Current War'. Even if big names like Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Nicholas Hoult and Tom Holland are associated more with their cape alias, made-up names like Doctor Strange, General Zod, Hank McCoy's Beast, or Peter Parker's Spider-Man these days. Or more timely here in this period piece, Mr. Holmes, 'The Iceman', 'Tolkien' and the young son from the 'Lost City Of Z'. Time to flip the switch and charge to the past. Because this is the mother of invention. When people really had lightbulbs above their head when they had an Eureka moment of a bright idea and we didn't just swipe past it like it was just another story. But this one should be told to the smartphone age of appliance. Even if gas to generator, by the strike of a match no one hears bedtime stories under a lamplight anymore. It's still all part of the narrative. As you watch a glistening ball fall in Times Square on December 31st lost in the neons like a Tokyo translation. From skyscrapers that soar to the sky it reaches with thousands of blinking eyes in every room still reading or watching to morning light. One that Edison will have you reading more about what you've just watched once 'The Current' passes.
AC/DC alternating and directing rocking across the United States of America, Edison and Westinghouse electrics thunderstrike their lightbulb and dark room looking red lights across a map of the American dream they both try to chase as they outrun each other. All for power and prestige like Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale's Christopher Nolan magicians. And who other but 'The Imitation Game's' Benedict Cumberbatch to do his best impression of an American accent and go to work? He's played so many legendary names, real and imagined. Alan Turing. Sherlock Holmes. Steven Strange. And now Thomas Edison. Even Julian Assange and 'Star Trek's' Khan. But here refusing to go into darkness he sets alight one of his most legendary performances of merit to date. And this national theatrical treasure has played the hollow crown of Hamlet in London's West End. And here with the stranger things of an Easter Egg assistance from Spider-Man Tom Holland in a scene stealing, maturing maverick performance I guess Peter Parker is actually the sorcerer supreme's Ward here and not Tony Stark as two Sherlock's quip in 'Infinity War'. And what sorcery is this as Edison becomes the father of invention with his right hand man by his aid? But in this contest of creative champions it's Michael Shannon (usually the perfect face of every villain in mainstream movies) that wants to do things the right way, for prosper not profit. Even if unwillingly going to quote on quote "war" he still wants to be an electric king like the time he perfectly played a pre-Vegas residency Presley visiting the White House for his 'Elvis/Nixon' with Kevin Spacey. The mustachio 'Midnight Special' actor is truly something here in a hallmark role. Who himself has the assistant help of the Pope, Stanley Townsend. An actor who has been so accented recently narrating and starring in the Hollywood classic West End theatrical adaptation of 'All About Eve' with Gillian Anderson and Lily James in London. As Shannon, 'The Shape Of Water' and 'Nocturnal Animals' Oscar nominated player has just found his next Academy worthy part. Even if the man he plays only ever received a recognition in recipient certificate of a certain Edison Award. Histories sense of karmic humour can be cruel. Now how's that for a jolt?
Learned and entertaining all the way to their first and final meet, these two light brigades charge between motion pictures and who sent the electric chair buzzing. Giving light and the darkness of death sentence shadow this story too, it's a good job these men at work have two strong women beside and behind them. 'Fantastic Beasts', 'Alien: Covenant' and 'Inherent Vice' star Katherine Waterston is at her best since 'Steve Jobs'. But it's 'Imitation Game' and T.V.'s 'Black Mirror' and 'Phillip K. Dick's Electric Dreams' star Tuppence Middleton who breaks new ground of dark despair, being the tragic turmoil that haunts the Einstein mad genius of Edison. But between a warm light, kindly man and one more like that 'Family Guy' skit of Edison were he fuses his neighbour with fury, leaving all the only lights in the village on all night, it's the middleman of Nicholas Hoult's Nikola Tesla who mesmerizes. And not just for that get up garb even more vintage stylish then his 'Favourite' wardrobe. The 'Tolkien' storyteller breathes fire into this one, even in the face of a smug Smaug. Stepping into the light, it's 'About A Boy' no more. We're talking about one of the greatest British actors of out generation. This boys still a beast even if the 'Dark Phoenix' looked to flame out his X-Men blues. This fine film from 'Me, Earl and the Dying Girl' director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, alive with talent and traditional texture, that even takes sock it shots at Trump's wall, has plenty of inventive in-jokes. Just like the man who tells Tesla he'll never see his name on anything ever again. He obviously went for a bathroom break during the legendary 'La La Land' Griffith Observatory scene. And to those coming into this showing late missing an usher like 8701, where's Edison when you need him? Thank your smartphone torches later it's time to turn those screens into black mirrors and realize where all this eclectic form of illuminating electricity comes from. And therefore it's a good job this dust gathering film has finally seen the light of day and is no longer under the Weinstein spotlight. In this war of revolution and invention, the 'Current' situation is one we can all learn from today. And if you don't want this history lesson that is a motion picture education, then how about you see this light? We wouldn't even be going to the movies we see today without Edison. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'The Imitation Game', 'Tolkien', 'The Prestige'.
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