THE CURRENT WAR review ***

Produced by:                        Timur Bekmambetov, Basil Isanyk, Harvey Weinstein

Directed by:              Alfonso Gomez-Rejon

Cast:              

Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Kaherine Waterston, Tom Holland,  Tuppence Middleton, Matthew Macfadyen, Nicholas Hoult

By Pinakee Sher 

Historical dramas have always been the centre of attraction particularly when it is centered around great inventors. This film boasts of many such men like Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse & Nikola Tesla. As the title suggests, the story deals with the war between Edison and Westinghouse about the current. Edison has invented electric bulb and presses that Direct Current (DC) is best to use because it is cheaper. But Westinghouse opposes him and his theory is that Alternating Current (AC) is best because it travels to greater distances at lower cost. And the war ensues till the end. Edison, of course, has been proved as a great inventor and intelligent and the portrayal of his character by Benedict Cumberbatch is nice be it his expressions or his demeanour. We have been led into the personal life of Edison on some level which is affable but overall the drama focuses on Edison's competition with his rivals and his quest for inventions.

After going through the development hell, the film has finally managed to see light of the day. It is another attempt by Hollywood to celebrate their inventors. In simpler terms, it is an attempt to glamorize the fact that America has laid foundation for the technologies that  we are enjoying today. It is not out and out an entertainer but it is informative. Because there are visuals and the facts of the past to grab our attention. Edison's chemistry with his family and his love for work is good to watch. His daughter's style of conveying words to Edison by tapping repeatedly with fingers or with forks is mind blowing. In few scenes that trait of her has been shown. Overall this film is just another addition to historical drama  as it fails to gain a prominent position in the history of cinema though the history that the film deals with is highly prominent.