What to Watch This Weekend: April 3, 2020

Redbox: The Current War

The Current War takes an interesting struggle and powers it with an all-star cast; it tells an entertaining story that sheds some light on the race to illuminate the United States.  For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (Netflix): Coffee & Kareem

This unconventional buddy cop film leans on its ridiculous moments, adult dialogue, insult after insult, to serve and protect your funny bone.  For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (Disney+): Onward

Disney delivered a magical early gift to parents at home with newly home schooled kids by sending Pixar's Onward to digital and Disney+ early!  This film will cast a charm spell on you with it's wonderful cast, beautiful animation, and story that has all of the heart and magic that we have come to expect from this studio.  For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (HBO): The Kitchen

The Kitchen turns up the heat with a strong cast, plenty of twists and turns, and a soundtrack that sets the mood.  If you can’t handle the heat, get out of these ladies way!  For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (HBO): Won't You Be My Neighbor

Everyone could use a pick me up so stream the documentary on everyone's neighbor.  This documentary got a lot of positive press for its look into the iconic man's life.  Stream it on HBO soon as it leaves HBO after this month!

Streaming (Hulu): Into the Dark: Pooka Lives

Into the Dark: Pooka Lives has a fun, diverse cast of characters in a campy horror episode that forgoes CG and extra gore for plenty of fun, a few scares, and lots of enjoyment.  For more information, check out our review!

What to Watch This Weekend: October 25, 2019

In Theaters: The Current War: Director’s Cut

The Current War takes an interesting struggle and powers it with an all-star cast; it tells an entertaining story that sheds some light on the race to illuminate the United States.  For more information, check out our review!

In Theaters: Parasite
Parasite is like having two films in one, and the combination of the two results in a suspenseful, methodical story that has some interesting characters and plenty of surprises.  For more information, check out our review!

At Redbox: Stuber

STUBER is a wild ride from start to finish that has plenty of laughs, ridiculous situations, and interesting commentary on societal norms.  For more information, check out our review!  

Streaming (STARZ): Shaun of the Dead
We wanted to put some Halloween-themed movies in this list, and there’s nothing better than the classic comedy zombie movie, Shaun of the Dead.  One of Simon Pegg’s earlier roles has him dealing with a zombie outbreak in his small UK town in a hilarious and gory adventure.

Streaming (Vudu Free With Ads): Maggie
Abigail Breslin is currently starring in a fantastic zombie sequel, but an earlier role has her pair with Arnold Schwarzenegger as an infected girl whose father is doing everything he can to help her survive and not turn.

Review: The Current War (Director's Cut)

Release date: October 25, 2019
Running time: 107 minutes
Starring: Tom Holland, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon

Originally released internationally in 2017, the Current War finally gets its U.S. domestic release as a Director's Cut; a new cut of the film coming two years after it was originally scheduled.  The film details the battle between some of the most prolific inventors in modern history to determine the standard of America's power infrastructure.  On one side you have Thomas Edison (Cumberbatch) who champions direct current (DC) power; on the other you have George Westinghouse (Shannon) who is a proponent of alternating current (AC) power.  If this sounds dull well, don't worry, the battle between these two powerful men is electrifying to watch.  As the feud plays out there is intrigue, deception, some huge egos, and some wonder as America is pulled into the modern age.

Although the story is about America's power infrastructure and the men who ushered it in, the main draw of this film are the actors.  Cumberbatch does an exceptional job as Thomas Edison.  I was worried that the film would sand down some of Edison's rough edges; but thankfully the film pulls no punches.  Shannon's Westinghouse is the perfect foil to Edison, a man only interested in letting his work speak for itself and with no desire for the spotlight.  Throwing in Nikola Tesla (Nicholas Hoult) adds some additional intrigue to this fight as a third brilliant inventor whose ideas also help to shape America's future.  And finally, Tom Holland is great as Edison's assistant who knows much more about the man and his inventions that he initially appears.  

The story is slowly paced but I appreciated that about this film.  It gradually introduces the main characters and events that led to the competing standards, with a slow methodical pace to match the scientific progress in the film.  I wish it would have delved even deeper into some of the science behind these inventions and where the knowledge came from, but it does provide enough explanation to give the viewers the main ideas behind the dispute.  However, speaking of the story, the film is only "inspired by true events."  That flexibility with the facts allows for a very entertaining film about these great men, but makes me concerned with what liberties were taken to Hollywood-ize the story.  But that being said, this film does a good job of introducing the main players and telling an interesting and entertaining story; this will hopefully lead to people reading more about these individuals and their feud.

The Current War takes an interesting struggle and powers it with an all-star cast; it tells an entertaining story that sheds some light on the race to illuminate the United States.

Watch it

Screening: THE CURRENT WAR

THE CURRENT WAR: DIRECTOR’S CUT

Release: October 25, 2019 (wide)

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJuG1hKQMk 

Distributor: 101 Studios

Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Katherine Waterston, Tom Holland, Tuppence Middleton, Matthew Macfadyen and Nicholas Hoult

Genre: Biography, Drama, History

Three brilliant visionaries set off in a charged battle for the future in The Current War: Director’s Cut, the epic story of the cutthroat competition that literally lit up the modern world.  Benedict Cumberbatch is 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 (Michael Shannon), who believes he and his partner, the upstart genius Nikolai Tesla (Nicholas Hoult), 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.  Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) with Producer Timur Bekmambetov, Basil Iwanyk and Executive Producer Martin Scorsese, The Current War also stars Katherine Waterston, Tom Holland, Matthew Macfadyen and Tuppence Middleton.

THE CURRENT WAR Official Channels

FACEBOOK: www.Facebook.com/currentwarmovie

TWITTER: www.Twitter.com/currentwarmovie

INSTAGRAM: www.Instagram.com/currentwarmovie

HASHTAG: #CurrentWarMovie

Screening Details:

THE CURRENT WAR: DIRECTOR’S CUT

Wednesday, October 16

AMC Mazza Gallerie

7:00 PM

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As always, screenings are first-come, first-served so please arrive early to ensure you get a seat.