Tesla
IFC Films | Release Date (Streaming): August 21, 2020
5.0
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
7
Mixed:
10
Negative:
7
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
2
SirensOfTitanAug 21, 2020
Oh boy...this is a set of loosely related vignettes and it just does not come together. It’s like a history channel documentary with a terrible narrator. The only good parts of this movie are Kyle McLaughlin and Ethan Hawk’s performances.Oh boy...this is a set of loosely related vignettes and it just does not come together. It’s like a history channel documentary with a terrible narrator. The only good parts of this movie are Kyle McLaughlin and Ethan Hawk’s performances. There’s essentially no plot, weird scenes (like the ice cream scene, reminiscent of the big short but not charming like the big short), and I just feel like so much talent was wasted. It also feels like half the movie was shot on green screens in front of static historical images.… Expand
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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4
RalfbergsOct 21, 2020
I really expected something better. Especially after seeing Current War, which showed more about Edison, I hoped here I will get to see more about Tesla, but it mostly told the same things but kind of in a rushed way. Ethan Hawke was good,I really expected something better. Especially after seeing Current War, which showed more about Edison, I hoped here I will get to see more about Tesla, but it mostly told the same things but kind of in a rushed way. Ethan Hawke was good, but overall movie was weirdly pieced together and kinda told Tesla's story in a boring way.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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9
aurora1Nov 13, 2021
This movie is absolutely brilliant! The life and personality of one of the most extraordinary men ever born is depicted on the big screen with visionary madness and yet historical accuracy by a Michael Almereyda in state of grace. I justThis movie is absolutely brilliant! The life and personality of one of the most extraordinary men ever born is depicted on the big screen with visionary madness and yet historical accuracy by a Michael Almereyda in state of grace. I just loved the theatre-like feeling, the painted landscapes instead of the natural ones, the breaking of the forth wall by the narrator voice (the lovely Eve Hewson), with her laptop and Google searches. A convincing Rebecca Dayan impersonates the sensual, hypnotic beauty of Sarah Bernhardt (so gorgeous when she's recording her voice with a gramophone!), Ethan Hawke is absolutely perfect in the role of Tesla, a clumsy albatross among people (so well symbolised by the skating scene), exquisite mind when let free to imagine and create. Almereyda surpassed himself after the already excellent Marjorie Prime (and we meet again Lois Smith, here in a small cameo as the Grand Dame).… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
JLuis_001Sep 11, 2020
The world wasn't benevolent to Nikola Tesla during his lifetime, but nowadays he has become quite popular, although in many cases this is due to Elon Musk but hey, if he gets the attention for it then all the better. Remember that even DavidThe world wasn't benevolent to Nikola Tesla during his lifetime, but nowadays he has become quite popular, although in many cases this is due to Elon Musk but hey, if he gets the attention for it then all the better. Remember that even David Bowie himself played him.

The most notable element here is of course Ethan Hawke, who provides a sober but intense performance, nevertheless, part of that credit should go to director Michael Almereyda who with Tesla delivers a film that while it doesn't do justice entirely to the name and legacy of the visionary inventor, he doesn't do things wrong either.

It's certainly a film with a certain relaxed touch in its tone but it's also visually claustrophobic. This is because it was filmed almost entirely indoors and a lot of those moments by candlelight. Good points for the realism in that regard but visually it feels very formal and doesn't really invite the viewer.
But the most important thing about Tesla lies in its narrative, which takes a lot of liberties but this isn't really a problem because this is something this director usually does, the only thing I wonder is why he didn't decide to fully embrace that course.
Just watch Cymbeline so you can see what I mean.

For the rest, I'd say that it's worth it.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
Mauro_LanariNov 1, 2021
(Mauro Lanari)
Compared to the 2017 biopic "The Current War", Almereyda's "Tesla" is more challenging, almost arthouse cinema, as it aspires to convey to us the vision of the world from the mental perspective of the protagonist, who appears(Mauro Lanari)
Compared to the 2017 biopic "The Current War", Almereyda's "Tesla" is more challenging, almost arthouse cinema, as it aspires to convey to us the vision of the world from the mental perspective of the protagonist, who appears more insane than genius, silent, ascetic, phobic, mystical and perhaps even delirious. Fascinating but distancing movie, I wouldn't watch it once again.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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0
normandouglasSep 2, 2020
This movie is terrible. What happened to Maclachlan and Hawke? Are they that broke? Because they must have been paid huge fees in order to stoop this low. I only want to know the director's name to avoid anything they do. Presumably there wasThis movie is terrible. What happened to Maclachlan and Hawke? Are they that broke? Because they must have been paid huge fees in order to stoop this low. I only want to know the director's name to avoid anything they do. Presumably there was no screenwriter. If someone took the credit for a script, it's clearly a pseudonym. Stay away. Hasn't Nikola Tesla been insulted enough by what passes for history and science? Must the moviegoing public continue to pay for more suffering and indignity? This is worse than bad. It's empty, aimless, visually flat, sonically desultory. It is emotionally triggering but I never expected Tesla to contribute to my descent into anger. Forget this "movie" now.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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9
sdrelicNov 15, 2020
Art. Just right and strange as the man himself. Eve Hewson sets the pace as narrator and antagonist. Hawke, MacLachlan and Rebecca Dayan as Sarah Bernhardt shine in their roles. Fun, outside the box entertainment.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
BoombitDec 30, 2020
The film is wonderful. Tells about the life of Nikola Tesla. As I said, the film is great, but not for everyone.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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