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The Current War: Director's Cut

PG-13 Released Oct 25, 2019 1h 41m History Drama Biography TRAILER for List
61% Tomatometer 108 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Verified Ratings
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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The Current War: Director's Cut

The Current War: Director's Cut

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Read all reviews
The Current War: Director's Cut

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The Current War: Director's Cut

The Current War: Movie Clip - What a Roaring Silence The Current War: Movie Clip - What a Roaring Silence 0:49 The Current War: Movie Clip - Only Because You Said it Will The Current War: Movie Clip - Only Because You Said it Will 1:02 The Current War: Movie Clip - Misfortune Does Not Trump Progress The Current War: Movie Clip - Misfortune Does Not Trump Progress 0:49 The Current War: Movie Clip - Mary Talk The Current War: Movie Clip - Mary Talk 0:51 The Current War: Movie Clip - I Didn't Take Your Ideas The Current War: Movie Clip - I Didn't Take Your Ideas 1:02 The Current War: Movie Clip - I Had Two Dollars The Current War: Movie Clip - I Had Two Dollars 0:40 The Current War: Movie Clip - His Systems Lethal The Current War: Movie Clip - His Systems Lethal 0:44 View more videos
The Founder 81% 82% The Founder TRAILER for The Founder Tesla 58% 43% Tesla TRAILER for Tesla Radioactive 63% 43% Radioactive TRAILER for Radioactive Race 63% 77% Race TRAILER for Race Bigger 11% 78% Bigger TRAILER for Bigger Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

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
Timur Bekmambetov, Basil Iwanyk
Screenwriter
Michael Mitnick
Distributor
101 Studios
Production Co
The Weinstein Company, Thunder Road Pictures, Film Rites
Rating
PG-13 (Some Violent Content|Thematic Elements)
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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