‘The Current War': Edison, Tesla and Westinghouse Have Never Been So Dull [Review]

I was rather unimpressed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon‘s “The Current War” when it played at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival. Yes, that’s right, close to two years after its release, this formerly Weinstein-owned period movie is finally landing into theaters this October.

The film tackles Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse’s fierce rivalry in the field of invention and technology. It’s a movie filled with ideas, maybe too many, all of which leads to Edison’s historic lighting of Manhattan. However, Westinghouse and Nicola Tesla try to one-up him by introducing an alternate possibility for current.

Gomez-Rejon (“Me, Earl and the Dying Girl”) has a clear and concise vision of how he wants every shot to look. I’m a sucker for ultra-widescreen framing and DP-extraordinaire Chung Chung-hoon‘s photography is absolutely stunning here. …However, It pains me to say this, but despite looking absolutely stunning from the first frame to last, the movie is just very dull. I was not invested or interested in any of these characters (despite them being played by Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, and Nicholas Hoult). The blame must mostly go towards Michael Mitnick’s screenplay, which decides to turn this fascinating true story into an unfocused rambling of ideas. [C]

Zack Snyder Says He Still Hasn't Seen James Gunn's ‘Superman' — Months After Calling It “Amazing”

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May el-Toukhy’s ‘Woman Unknown’ Wins the Golden Lion at Venice — Surprise!

The short version: "Woman Unknown" was a compromise. The jury deadlocked over "Possible Love" and "NAZA," not able to com to terms, fell back on their #3, May el-Toukhy's film.

Cory Finley's 'Reasonable People,' Starring Paul Rudd and Sam Rockwell, Shoots This Fall

Cory Finley, a talented filmmaker, has directed three films so far: "Thoroughbreds" (2017), "Bad Education” (2020), and "Landscape with Invisible Hand.”

Bassam Tariq Says Making ‘Blade' at Marvel Was ‘“a Different Thing”: “Somebody Else Is Running This”

Bassim Tariq was the first one in the chair. The "Mogul Mowgli" director spent two years building out the Mahershala Ali vehicle before exiting in 2022, and he's now letting the air out on this one.

‘The Family Stone’ Sequel Greenlit at Searchlight, Fall Shoot, Reunites the Entire Cast — Except Diane Keaton

Claire Danes, Rachel McAdams, Dermot Mulroney, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson, Tyrone Giordano, Elizabeth Reaser, Paul Schneider, and Brian White will all be back.

August 19, 2019

3-Hour ‘Midsommar' Director's Cut Screened in NYC

This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

Joaquin Phoenix Reuniting with Mike Mills for Next Film, Shooting in January 2027

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Paul Thomas Anderson Has Already Chosen His Next Film, Jonny Greenwood Says

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Ridley Scott Says “I Didn’t Say That” After Calling ‘The Dog Stars’ His Best Movie Since ‘The Martian’

In June 2026, Scott told The Buyer that “The Dog Stars” is “probably the best movie I’ve done since The Martian.” He’s now denying he ever said that.

Todd Field-Written ‘The Girls’ Sets Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic to Direct, November Shoot

Cinephiles another Todd Field movie, and although we might have to wait for his next directorial effort, “The Girls” will have to suffice for now.

Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ Tops the Best Films of the 1930s, According to 100+ Critics

We’ve gone through the decades. The ‘40s ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘2000s, and ‘2010s. — all revisited, argued over. Now, here are the results for the best films of the 1930s.

Critics Poll: ‘Citizen Kane' Named Best Film of the 1940s

The results are in, and according to critics, this decade filled with cinematic riches did not have a better film than Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane.” Nobody should be surprised by this result. “Citizen Kane” changed cinema forever.

Critics Poll: ‘Vertigo’ Named Best Film of the 1950s, Over 120 Participants

It was a closer race than anticipated, but Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” has topped our best of the ’50s poll, besting Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s “Singin’ in the Rain” by just two votes.

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