The future is something we sometimes take for granted, especially when we don’t look to where we came from. Computers, internet, medicine and more are now a forgone conclusion, but at one time there was darkness. From a small flame, invention was born, and berthing that invention were geniuses by the names of Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse and more.
This film focuses on these giants. Thomas Edison (Benedict Cumberbatch), the man credited with electricity and the light bulb is on the forefront of science and front page of newspapers. His inventions, or rather the inventions he’s introduced to the world, are marvels that have the rich and the powerful looking his way. A family man that is driven by the next step, he works tirelessly to be the yardstick that all electrical engineering is measured by.
With all great minds though, difficulties in human interaction seem to arise. And on one fateful day, Edison decided to forego a meeting with the powerful magnate George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon). From that snub a rivalry of sorts was born. Edison and his publicity against Westinghouse and his cost-effective and more powerful option. The race to electrify America has begun and the final victor will be the man holding all of the power.
Stellar acting by Cumberbatch and Shannon are what works to keep this film afloat. Unfortunately, the plot itself is what lets the viewers down. Slow storytelling and the only minor use of Tesla (Nicholas Hoult) made this subpar. Tom Holland is also in the film as Edison’s assistant, but this part was minimal, as well.
I very much wanted a bigger and more grandiose story, but what I got were squabblings. Invention is the key to this film, but passion and characters make it worth notice.
Grade: C+
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1h 47m
