EDISON

US, 2005, 97 minutes, Colour.
Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, Justin Timberlake, L.L. Cool J, Dylan Mc Dermott, John Heard, Cary Elweis, Roselyn Sanchez, Damian Wayans, Piper Parabo.
Directed by David J. Burke.

Edison is a family story of police and civic corruption in the town of Edison in New Jersey. Whether the inhabitants of Edison would be happy with the film is another matter.

The film focuses on an earnest young reporter, played by Justin Timberlake, who gets information that would lead to the uncovering of police corruption, a special squad overseen by John Heard, led by Dylan Mc Dermott, with L.L. Cool J as a member but someone with a conscience. He intends to marry (Roselyn Sanchez) – something that the members of this squad were forbidden to do.

Kevin Spacey portrays the honest detective in the town. Cary Elweis is the mayor, involved in the corruption, the laundering of money, for charities, as well as cover-ups. Morgan Freeman portrays the veteran newspaper editor who had experienced investigations in the past, is moved and irritated by the young reporter, becomes involved in the expose.

The themes are interesting – however, by the end, the film moves into familiar shootout mode rather than continuing the intensity of the drama.

The director David J. Burke is better known as a writer and producer of television series rather than as a director. The film itself went direct to video/ DVD.

1.A picture of American corruption, civic and police, the media?

2.The quotation from Ashford about moral imperative and responsibilities? As applied to the characters and situations? To civic duties, to the administration of law and justice, to the reporting of the media, to the role of citizens and their voting?

3.Edison in New Jersey, the city, a symbol? Its look, the skyscrapers, the companies occupying the offices? The police precinct? The benefit trusts? The streets, the mean street areas, the clubs, jails, hospitals, the neighbourhood? The contrast with the countryside and the farm and the farmhouse? Authentic and realistic? The score?

4.Familiar material from other films, television series? The psychology, the film working as a thriller, chases, shootouts?

5.The introduction to Frank Lazerov and Rafe Deed? The Frat Group? The initial confrontation with the drug dealers, Deed to kill the young man, his not being able to do so? Frank and his shooting? The atmosphere of fear? Planning their story? Going to the court, the young man and his not telling the truth, Deed and the false story? The young man thanking Deed for his testimony? Josh Pollack and his hearing this, his questions to Deed and Frank, the effect on Frank? Determination to get Pollack?

6.Moses, the local paper, the Jewish paper, the African American editor? His background in Vietnam? His encounter with Pollack, confronting him with being a lazy writer, the ethos of reporting, talking about opportunities, firing him? Pollack and his visit to Moses’ house? Moses intervening, going to the mayor, the discussion, the tensions?

7.The Frat Group, Captain Tillman revealed as their head, his cover? The links to the mayor, money laundering? The fifteen years of building up the squad? The Frat background, not marrying, dedicated to eliminating crime? Yet using crime for their work? Deed and his fiancée, going to the dance and the club, the engagement ring? Going against the ethos of Frat? His seeing the violence towards Josh and to Willow Summerfield? His not understanding? His wanting to clear the matter up? Frank and his taking things into his own hand, the bashing outside the club? Willow in hospital? The attempts to kill her? Pollack being transferred to Levon Wallace’s house, Frank and his search of the countryside, Pollack seeing him, the car exploding?

8.Deed, the effect of the dance, the engagement, the bashing, a touch of conscience, Pollack confronting him? The pressure, the talks with Frank, his decision to be a double agent, get the information? The final chase and shootouts?

9.Frank and his leading The Frat Group, the other members, their participation in crimes for justice? Being killed? The young man in jail, his work, his being knifed? His being the source for Pollack and the article?

10.Levon Wallace and the investigation, Frank and his dislike of him, going to talk with the mayor, listening to the mayor? Listening to Moses, conducting the investigation, moving Pollack to the farm? Confronting the group? The cover and his restoring order at the end?

11.The mayor, his position, his smooth talk, his money laundering, his charities, the expose and his giving in?

12.The police, the restoring of order? Pollack and his voice-over, moral imperatives, the media and order?

13.A film about moral responsibility and the exercise of this responsibility?