Edison
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Edison
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Edison (also known as Edison Force) is a 2005 crime thriller with violent scenes, drugs, and strong language. Justin Timberlake is idealistic news journalist Josh Pollack, who senses there is police corruption underpinning a trial he is reporting on. Pollack is the movie's moral center, as the allegiances of the cops he speaks to shifts and changes. His boss, newspaper editor Moses Ashford (Morgan Freeman) and seasoned detective Levon Wallace (Kevin Spacey) also want justice to be served, but are frequently cynical about the long-term gains of following Pollack's leads. There is ethnic diversity among the main cast but very few female characters feature, and those that do tend to be typecast as love interests or sex workers. Violence is frequent and often bloody, with several deaths by gunshot showing head wounds. Characters are beaten leading to permanent injury and hospitalization. A scene takes place in a brothel, and characters are seen in bed together. But there is no graphic nudity. Language is frequent, with several variations of "f--k" including "motherf----r." There are a number of drug references and characters are seen snorting cocaine, smoking, and drinking.
What's the Story?
In EDISON, young newspaper reporter Joshua Pollack (Justin Timberlake) investigates police corruption and sets off an unexpected chain of events.
Is It Any Good?
A forgotten mid-2000s crime vehicle for pop star turned actor Timberlake and several other famous faces, this movie was quietly ushered out straight-to-video and it's easy to see why. Early on, Edison (also known as Edison Force) seems to flirt with the idea of becoming a John Grisham-esque legal drama before quickly morphing into a clunky thriller. Writer and director David J. Burke seems caught in two minds about what type of movie he wanted to make. LL Cool J's turn as conflicted corrupt cop Deed is typical of the almost-symbolism we get throughout, while Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey come and go as a newspaper editor and ace detective who are oddly sidelined away from the movie's action.
The whole thing is about as convincing as the voluminous wig that Spacey sports throughout, with Timberlake's voiceover in the closing stages suggesting the makers felt the need to patch up the ending. Amid the crooked cop cliches and the action taking place in a police force that doesn't noticeably employ any women, the only really novelty here is spotting so many familiar faces in a movie you've probably never heard of -- for good reason.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Edison. What impact did it have? What consequences were there? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
How did Pollack attempt to expose police corruption? How would he do this differently nowadays, with the widespread use of the internet?
How was drinking, smoking, and drug use depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? Why does that matter?
Did you notice a lack of female characters? How might the movie be different if it were remade today? Why is representation important?
Discuss the strong language in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: July 18, 2006
- Cast: Justin Timberlake, Morgan Freeman, LL Cool J
- Director: David J. Burke
- Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- Genre: Thriller
- Run time: 99 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong violence and language, and brief drug use
- Last updated: January 20, 2023
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For kids who love thrillers
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