| Edison
By Mal Simons, Blockbuster.co.uk
Edison is a cracking crime thriller starring a top rate cast which includes Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, LL Cool J, Justin Timberlake, Dylan McDermott and Cary Elwes; when a fresh faced reporter uncovers a conspiracy that involves people at the highest levels of the Police department he joins up with a jaded reporter and an investigator to reveal the truth.
Justin Timberlake, I’ve never bought any of his albums as I’m not one for boy bands / pretty boys but I respect that he’s a good artist. I saw him get punk’d by Ashton Kutcher, he was a good sport, and came across as a decent bloke. However, when I heard that he would be taking a starring role in this movie, I was more than a little sceptical – we all remember Kyle Minogue in Streetfighter(!) I wondered whether Timberlake would be as good at acting as he is at singing.
It turns out that I needn’t have been so untrusting! Timberlake isn’t just good; he’s great in this film. I suppose, it’s because I wasn’t expecting much that I think so highly of his performance – but I really was impressed. Furthermore, Edison is a great movie with plenty of action, drama, suspense and damn fine acting. It’s like SWAT with a brain… sort of SWAT mixed with ‘All the President’s Men’.
The film opens with two elite Detectives Frances Lazerov (Dylan McDermott) and Rafe Deed (LL Cool J) bursting into a drug dealer’s flat and holding two suspects. Lazerov steals the drugs and then murders one of the defenceless suspects, ‘convincing’ the other suspect to take the blame. Later, the cops both testify that this was a domestic disturbance and they arrived at the scene too late to save the murdered man.
While on the stand, Officer Deed sees that their framed suspect is a religious man, his elderly mother by his side and feels at least slightly guilty about what has happened. He twists his testimony slightly, to make it appear that this man had shown remorse for what had happened, and that the man was acting in self defence. The suspect is still convicted, but grateful for the officer’s help. He thanks him as the police officer walks past him.
Young reporter Josh Pollack (Timberlake) is in court writing a feature for a small tabloid newspaper run by former top journalist Moses Ashford (Morgan Freeman). He notices the inconsistencies in the officer’s statements and finds it suspicious that this suspect should thank the officer for his testimony. Returning to the paper, he prepares a story – which his editor rejects out of hand – telling him that the story is unfinished and he needs to get more facts and hard evidence before proceeding any further.
The young reporter is encouraged to continue on looking for evidence and corroboration and he uncovers what actually happened that night – at least, from the wrongly convicted suspect’s point of view. With his editor’s help, he is able to talk to Edison’s District Attorney (Cary Elwes) to get the police response in order to build a proper story that could be run in any major paper. In the background, Federal Investigator Levon Wallace (Kevin Spacey), also in the room; listens intently and quietly passes Pollack his card, the DA doesn’t want to know of any allegations against his top police unit and rubbishes the idea of a cover-up.
Later that night, Pollack is at a club with his girlfriend when he sees Officer Deed in the room; this persuades him to leave early. As his girlfriend and he are walking home, the two of them are brutally attacked by masked men. Hearing the commotion outside, Deed runs out and chases the masked men away, only to find out that they are actually members of his own unit. Shocked by the state of the couple, and because he wasn’t aware that this attack was due to take place; Deed waits with Pollack until the ambulance arrives; later telling the journalist’s editor that the hospital is unsafe and they must go into hiding, he however, will not be making a stand.
Following the officer’s advice, Pollack flees the hospital and teams up with his editor and Investigator Wallace to find the evidence that will put the officer’s away for their crimes. Believing Deed to be the weakest link in the department – someone they can turn, Pollack is encouraged to get Deed to provide evidence in exchange for immunity. Unfortunately for them, the corrupt cops are on to them and are intent on killing Pollack before he is able to uncover a truth.
Written and directed by David J Burke, a writer and producer of cop / legal show - Law & Order: Special Victim’s Unit; Edison has been stylishly put together with a great story featuring enough clever dialogue, twists and tension to keep us all gripped right up until the very end. What I found surprising however, was in addition to this great story, there are some terrific action moments with gun battles, explosions, car chases and fights that all lead up to a terrific climatic finale.
I could go on and on about this film all day, I was impressed. It’s by no means a ‘Shawshank Redemption’ but it has a great cast and it’s a good, stylish crime – action – thriller. Head and shoulders above SWAT and other guilty pleasure crime / corruption / action flicks; this is a cracking action-thriller. Add this to your list now!
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