Tesla

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Eve Hewson, Josh Hamilton, Lucy Walters, Kyle MacLachlan, Jim Gaffigan, Hannah Gross

Director: Michael Almereyda

Six months into working with Thomas Edison (Kyle MacLachlan), Nikola Tesla (Ethan Hawke) sets out on his own after Edison continually ignores his ideas and refuses to pay him what he is owed. While promoting his groundbreaking research about alternating currents, Tesla finds himself in business with Edison's biggest competitor, George Westinghouse (Jim Gaffigan) as well as J.P. Morgan's ambitious daughter Anne (Eve Hewson). After conquering Edison, Tesla continues to push the boundaries of science, sacrificing any meaningful relationships he has along the way.

Another week, another biopic. While this one tries to keep things interesting with anachronistic touches, it ultimately falls flat due to it not really understanding its main character.

That's not to say Ethan Hawke isn't good in the lead. Quite the opposite in fact, as Hawke keeps the film watchable and afloat. The problem lies in the fact that the movie isn't concerned with understanding Tesla as a character or human being. We are constantly told how smart he is but we never actually experience his brilliance, with the film instead concerned with plowing through his accomplishments with reckless abandon and trying to be clever with the aforementioned anachronisms. Some of them do work, while others don't. I applaud them for swinging for the fences with Hawke singing "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears, karaoke style to the camera towards the end of the film.

I appreciate the film for trying to highlight something different than what was covered in last year's long delayed The Current War. Unfortunately, the rivalry between Tesla, Edison, and Westinghouse makes for a far more interesting film. And while that previous film was far from perfect, it knew how to keep its story entertaining.

The movie clearly has a low budget but director Almereyda does manage to keep things visually interesting, with its intentionally minimalistic sets or its fun scene transitions. But like Hawke's performance, these touches can only help so much.

Grade: C-

Tesla is available on VOD