Movie review: Tesla (2020)

I watched this movie expecting a thoughtful biographical drama about one of the most interesting figures in the history of science. Unfortunately, it turned out to be dull, and uninformative, despite its occasional stylistic ambition.

The movie feels more like an avant-garde experiment than a work with real substance. It jumps between timelines, often feels distracting, as if the film is unsure whether it wants to be a serious biography or a commentary on how to tell historical stories. The pacing doesn’t help either. Large portions of the movie feel boring, with long scenes that don’t reveal anything new. By the end, the film had covered a fair amount but said very little.

Much of the movie shows familiar themes: Tesla-Edison rivalry, his eccentric nature, and financial struggles without adding much insight. Technical ideas are mentioned but Tesla’s actual work remains frustratingly abstract. And then, there's the karaoke ending.

If you’re interested in Nikola Tesla himself, you’re better off skipping the movie entirely and reading Tesla’s own autobiographical writings. In his own words, Tesla comes across as more vivid, and insightful than anything the film manages to convey. For anyone genuinely curious about Tesla’s life or ideas, reading his work is both more engaging and far more rewarding.