Unlike critics, we really liked this story of the late 19th century clashes between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse over modern electricity. The all-star cast includes Benedict Cumberbatch as arrogant and megalomaniacal Thomas Edison, Michael Shannon as cool-headed George Westinghouse, Katherine Waterston as his supportive wife Marguerite, and Tom Holland as Edison's assistant Samuel Insull. Nicholas Hoult is also in the mix as Nikola Tesla.
The reason for "Director's Cut" is that an earlier version of this movie premiered at the Toronto Film Festival (also known as TIFF) in 2017 but got shelved due to Harvey Weinstein's sexual improprieties coming to light. It was re-edited with additional scenes, new composers were hired (more on the music in a moment), and it was released a few days ago.
Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon got to stay, as did screenwriter Michael Mitnick. I have no idea how accurate it is but the personal conflicts, the economics, and the science were compelling to Jack, Carina, Mark, and me.
I was transported by the music. Volker Bertelmann & Dustin O'Halloran, the original composers, have at least one track in the final movie, which I found on YouTube, and Max Richter's Spring 1, adapted from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, is available there as well. Sadly for me, the new score, by Danny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans, doesn't seem to be streaming anywhere.
Cinematographer Chung-hoon Chung's work is also masterful, with brilliant colors and lots of overhead and angled shots. Noteworthy as well: costume design by Michael Wilkinson and production design by Jan Roelfs.
Cumberbatch was last blogged for Avengers: Infinity War, Shannon for The Shape of Water, Waterston for Mid90s, Holland for Spider-Man: Far from Home, Gomez-Rejon for Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, O'Halloran for The Hate U Give, Bensi and Jurriaans for Boy Erased. Chung shot the Me and Earl and the Dying Girl..
During the movie I kept thinking this could get Oscar nominations for cinematography and wardrobe, if not direction. But now, after seeing that Rotten Tomatoes' critics are averaging a cruel 31%, the nominations may be less likely. It's too soon for audience reviews yet. Go see it and make up your own mind.
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