Norielyn A.

Hoyla

BSTM A21AM

GE 7 Science, Technology and Society

Movie Review

The Current War (2017)

In 1880, the world is lit by fire. Machines are moved by hand, foot or steam. The engineer

George Westinghouse has risen to immense wealth through his invention of the railway air brake.

He has invested his fortune in natural gas, believing it to be the future of light and industry. The

inventor Thomas Edison, world-famous but cash-poor, has been working night and day on a

superior alternative: electricity.

Thomas Edison (Benedict Cumberbatch and George Washington (Michael Shannon)

together with Nikolai Tesla (Nicholas Hault) entered a race to create the modern world. The

Current War is directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and written by Michael Mitnick.

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. 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, who believes he and his partner, the upstart genius Nikolai Tesla 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.

The Current War film makes clever use of its electrical theme, using light bulbs in a number

of symbolic ways, creating both stunning visuals and helping to drive the plot forward. As well as

documenting their fierce rivalry, the film also touches on the personal lives of Edison and

Westinghouse, which helps to soften the tone of the film. Sadly, there just isn’t enough time to

explore these characters with the depth truly needed, which makes the viewers be disappointed

with the incomplete information of each inventors.

As much as the film celebrates the achievements of Edison, Westinghouse and Tesla, its

core message is the importance of holding onto those we love as we pursue our goals. Although,

it has been said that Edison stole the works of Tesla, I have done research and it was completely a

myth.

Both of the three brilliant visionaries are great and this race on making a modern world, I

can say that if these three only helped each other, the race will be no longer started and the peace

on Earth will start a long time ago. Besides the Phonograph of Edison makes the world be in a

lively, to record voice and to start listening to different music.

This film puts a mark on me that everyone wants to be the best on all, but we should know

that in our own selves we are the best on everything. We don’t need war, or race, we just have to

believe that we are great and by that, that greatness in our own selves can help the world even if

it’s a big thing or just little. And the wonderment on Science and Technology is a really big help

on our society. The Current War is nine out of ten, and just another fact, it will be just released this

month, or in this year, yet I find a way to watch this first. It is a great experience to watch this kind
of film about our history, I hope that everyone will like this film especially the casts are known.

The Current War is a two thumbs up film!