The Current War: Director's Cut (2017)

The dramatic story of the cutthroat race between electricity titans Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse to determine whose electrical system would power the modern world.

Director:

Alfonso Gomez-Rejon

Writer:

Michael Mitnick

Stars:

Tom Holland, Michael Shannon, Benedict Cumberbatch

Cast

Credited cast:
Tom Holland	...	Samuel Insull
Michael Shannon	...	George Westinghouse
Benedict Cumberbatch	...	Thomas Edison
Katherine Waterston	...	Marguerite Westinghouse
Nicholas Hoult	...	Nikola Tesla
Matthew Macfadyen	...	J.P. Morgan
Tuppence Middleton	...	Mary Edison
Woody Norman	...	Dash Edison
Louis Ashbourne Serkis	...	Older Dash
Damien Molony	...	Bourke Cockran
Simon Kunz	...	Womack
Amy Marston	...	Annabelle Worthington
Craig Conway	...	Warden Durston
Simon Manyonda	...	Lewis Latimer
Stanley Townsend	...	Franklin Pope

Storyline

Three brilliant visionaries set off in a charged battle for the future in The Current War, the epic story of the cutthroat competition that literally lit up the modern world. Benedict Cumberbatch is Thomas Edison, the celebrity inventor on the verge of bringing electricity to Manhattan with his radical new DC technology. On the eve of triumph, his plans are upended by charismatic businessman George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon), who believes he and his partner, the upstart genius Nikola Tesla (Nicholas Hoult), have a superior idea for how to rapidly electrify America: with AC current. As Edison and Westinghouse grapple for who will power the nation, they spark one of the first and greatest corporate feuds in American history, establishing for future Titans of Industry the need to break all the rules. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) with Producer Timur Bekmambetov, Basil Iwanyk and Executive Producer Martin Scorsese, The Current War also stars ...

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Plot Keywords:

lens flare | world's fair | 1893 columbian exposition | chicago illinois | close up of eyes | 

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Taglines:

Only one could power the world.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some disturbing/violent images, and thematic elements

Details

Official Sites:

Filmnegah [Iran] Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 October 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Current War: Director's Cut

Filming Locations:

Waltham Abbey, Essex, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,633,717, 27 October 2019

Gross USA:

$5,970,641

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,120,947

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bazelevs Production, Film Rites, FlightAV.com

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jake Gyllenhaal was originally cast alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role, however, Gyllenhaal dropped out and Michael Shannon was brought as a replacement.

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Goofs

Most of the railroad equipment shown is British and the story in set in the US.

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Quotes

Samuel Insull: So, what's your trade?
Nikola Tesla: I fix problems for idiots.

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Alternate Versions

The film originally premiered at numerous festival and was then shelved for 2 years until a re-edited version (titled "The Current War: The Director's Cut") was released theatrically in 2019

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Connections

Referenced in Midnight Screenings: Tulip Fever (2017)

User Reviews

AC/DC

You'd have thought Nikola Tesla wasn't the most important person in the world when it came to to post industrial revolution if you watched this as you're only take on history .

The reality is the opposite but this film wanted to concentrate on the Americans and ignore the positive input the new immigrant had on the modern industrial world .

Yes it was good that Westinghouse got a better expose than normal - more than just an alternative financer to JP Morgan .

The highlight was Nicholas Holts acting - widely underrated he come along way since About a boy and Skins .

Average concentrates too much on Edison .

5/10 Pad.A