Edison

Edison

Year: 2005

Runtime: 99 mins

Language: English

Director: David J. Burke

Budget: $25M

DramaThrillerAction

In the crime‑ridden city of Edison, the police act above the law. A determined young journalist teams up with his cynical editor and an incorruptible district‑attorney investigator to expose corruption within an elite police squad, gathering damning evidence to bring the perpetrators to justice.

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Timeline & Setting – Edison (2005)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Edison (2005). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Edison

Edison is a mid-sized town where a routine police pursuit spirals into a major corruption scandal. The town becomes the nerve center for investigations that threaten to expose the abuse of power within the F.R.A.T. unit. The tight-knit community feels the ripple effects as crime and media scrutiny converge on its streets.

🏙️ City 🕵️ Investigation 🚓 Police 💰 Corruption

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:11

Main Characters – Edison (2005)

Meet the key characters of Edison (2005), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Levon Wallace (David Palffy)

Levon Wallace is an investigator who coordinates with the DA and journalists to expose the unit's corruption. As a calculating, relentless figure, he seeks to protect evidence that could topple his own colleagues. His actions drive the pursuit of accountability even at personal risk.

🧭 Investigation 🕵️ Detective 🚓 Police

Moses Ashford (Morgan Freeman)

Moses Ashford is a seasoned Herald editor who grapples with information versus sensationalism. He initially resists publishing rumors but ultimately becomes a key ally in exposing the corruption. His decisions shape how the public learns the truth and how power responds.

🗞️ Media 🧭 Influence

Joshua Pollack

Joshua Pollack is a determined reporter who pursues the corruption story despite resistance and personal danger. He embodies the ethical pursuit of truth, risking his career for a chance to reveal the cover-up. His interactions with editors and police escalate the stakes.

🗞️ Reporter 🕵️ Investigative

Raphael 'Rafe' Deed (LL Cool J)

Raphael Deed is a rookie detective whose loyalty to the unit is tested by moral decisions. He wrestles with the brutality of the system and becomes a central figure in exposing the truth when he shifts to protect the investigative process. His arc explores duty vs conscience.

🧭 Duty 🗡️ Violence

Francis Lazerov (Dylan McDermott)

Francis Lazerov is a veteran detective and the driving force behind the unit’s ruthless methods. He thrives on control and efficiency, using fear to maintain power. His actions push the story toward its darkest revelations and finale.

🚓 Authority 🧭 Power

Willow (Piper Perabo)

Willow is Pollack’s girlfriend who supports his investigation and offers emotional grounding amid danger. She represents a personal stake in the fight for truth and the costs of speaking out. Her presence anchors the human cost of the corruption story.

❤️ Relationship 🗞️ Support

Maria (Roselyn Sánchez)

Maria is Pollack's partner, intimately connected to the investigation through her relationship with Pollack. She provides motivation and resilience as the couple navigates threats and the pursuit of justice. Her character underscores the stakes on a personal level.

💖 Relationship 🧭 Family

Jack Reigert (Cary Elwes)

Jack Reigert is the district attorney involved in the broader money-laundering scheme that supports the corrupted unit. He personifies political power manipulating the system, complicating the path to accountability. His presence raises the stakes of legal battles.

⚖️ Law 🕶️ Power

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:11

Major Themes – Edison (2005)

Explore the central themes of Edison (2005), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔎 Corruption

The film centers on systemic corruption within a specialized police unit. It traces how power can warp judgment, leading to cover-ups and fabricated narratives. The pursuit of truth clashes with institutional protection of bad actors, forcing characters to choose between career, loyalty, and justice.

📰 Media & Truth

Journalists and editors push against official spin to uncover what's real. The story shows how reporting, publishing, and whistleblowing can confront entrenched power. Yet the media also contends with fear, credibility, and the costs of exposing corruption.

⚖️ Justice & Morality

The line between law and vigilante action blurs as characters wrestle with what justice requires. Duty to protect the innocent clashes with the demand for accountability when institutions fail. The narrative explores consequences of taking the law into one’s own hands and the potential for redemption.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:11

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Corruption exposés like Edison

Movies about investigators and journalists risking everything to bring down a corrupt institution.A list of movies like Edison, where journalists or investigators fight systemic corruption. If you enjoyed the tense process of uncovering a conspiracy from within a powerful institution, these suspenseful thrillers and dramas deliver a similar feeling of moral struggle and high-stakes investigation.

tensegrittyparanoidurgentcynicaldetermined

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a clear exposé structure: discovering initial clues of wrongdoing, facing disbelief or active obstruction, methodically building a case while being targeted by the corrupt system, and culminating in a high-stakes confrontation to bring the truth to light. The protagonist's arc is one of increasing resolve in the face of mounting danger.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here because they share a central theme of fighting institutional corruption, a tense and gritty tone, and a plot centered on a meticulous investigation. They deliver a specific experience of moral outrage and the satisfaction of seeing a seemingly untouchable power structure held accountable.

Gritty urban thrillers like Edison

Suspenseful stories set in decaying cities where crime and moral ambiguity reign.This collection features movies with a similar vibe to Edison, capturing the feeling of a tense, suspenseful crime story set in a bleak and oppressive city. If you liked the gritty atmosphere and urgent pace of a city corrupted from within, these films offer comparable moods and settings.

grittysuspensefulanxiousoppressiveurban decaybleak

Narrative Summary

The narrative is driven by a central crime or conspiracy that exposes the rot at the heart of the city. The protagonist's journey is a physical and moral navigation through this corrupt landscape, facing threats from both criminals and a compromised system. The city's oppressive nature creates constant suspense and a sense of inescapable danger.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they prioritize a specific mood and setting: a suspenseful, gritty, and often cynical atmosphere within a decaying urban environment. The shared experience is one of immersion in a world where justice is hard-fought and the environment itself is a source of tension.

Unlock the Full Story of Edison

Don't stop at just watching — explore Edison in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Edison is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Edison Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Edison, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Edison Summary

Edison Timeline

Track the full timeline of Edison with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Edison Timeline

More About Edison

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Edison: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Edison

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Discover movies like Edison that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.