Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Experimental film about electricity giant sparks curiosity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
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Tesla
What's the Story?
TESLA takes an avant-garde approach to exploring the life of visionary scientist Nikola Tesla (Ethan Hawke) during his most prolific years as an inventor. Narrated by philanthropist Anne Morgan (Eve Hewson) -- daughter of financier/banker J.P. Morgan -- Tesla's success and failure is measured through his relationships with her and her father, as well as with Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, Sarah Bernhardt, and Tesla's mother.
Is It Any Good?
Writer-director Michael Almereyda's unconventional approach to telling Tesla's life story isn't so much electric as shockingly disappointing. An eccentric take on the revolutionary inventor is perhaps an appropriate tribute. Certainly, as the film points out, Tesla didn't always know how to communicate his ideas compared to his more marketing-savvy competitors. And maybe it's also appropriate that the film ends with Tesla remaining as much of a mystery as he's always been.
That doesn't mean information on the electrical systems designer isn't provided. It is -- so much so, in fact, that it's nearly impossible to retain it all. In an approach that's hard to understand, 19th century Anne Morgan (Eve Hewson) breaks the fourth wall to talk directly to viewers to instruct, analyze, and sometimes opine on Tesla. It's a little like Drunk History, but boring. The longer the movie goes, it begins to feel like they ran out of money, shooting against a green screen canvas or photograph. And -- spoiler alert? -- the penultimate moment, when Tesla reflects on his life's challenges through song, will go down as one of cinema's most "what the heck?" endings. You may not be able to make head or tails of it. But, then again, the same could be said for Nikola Tesla himself.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the filmmakers' approach to telling Nikola Tesla's story. How does Tesla compare to other biopics you've seen? How would you describe Tesla's contributions to electrical systems?
How does Tesla exemplify curiosity and perseverance? Could his inventions have been realized without those qualities?
A romantic admiration is imagined here between Tesla and Anne Morgan, who did have some kind of friendly relationship in real life. Do you think it's right to expound on that and give it overtones of attraction? Does knowing that the real-life Morgan came out later in life change your opinion?
Why do you think Tesla has become a revered icon? Would you rather be successful while you're alive and then forgotten, or die broke and alone but be considered one of the greats and remembered forever?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 21, 2020
- On DVD or streaming : February 2, 2021
- Cast : Ethan Hawke , Kyle MacLachlan , Eve Hewson
- Director : Michael Almereyda
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : IFC Films
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : STEM
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some thematic material and nude images
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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