Hedda

A total demolition of an Ibsen play, wrecked by a dreadful story and unconvincing acting. There's zero sense of escape or immersion, the kind of transport a period piece should deliver. Disbelief sets in from the first scene and never lets up. I've seen countless films win me over as they unfold, but this one never stood a chance.

I was genuinely excited for a bold reimagining, but like many modern "reinterpretations" of classics, this failed in every way. An extremely talented actress like Tessa Thompson is completely wasted, along with Imogen Poots in a minor role. This is perfectly on brand for Nia DaCosta, hyped as the next great filmmaker with no body of work to back it up.

Nina Hoss, as Eileen Lovborg, has the best material in this adaptation, and she makes the most of it. The queer love triangle at the center of this film develops her character the most and in some ways is more intense than the original play's treatment of the male character "Ejlert Lovborg." Unfortunately other aspects of the adaptation are not as successful or convincing, but I hope that Hoss, as Eileen, is recognized for making the movie worth watching and talking about.........I should also point out that reimagining the action at an all-night party created a dramatic arc that was clever. And that many of the other actors were good but simply didn't have enough material to do their complex characters justice.

I recently watched Hedda (2025) on Prime. The story takes place in England, where Hedda has recently married, moved into a new home, and appears to have the perfect life. She hosts a party to celebrate, inviting a former lover, a current lover, old classmates, and a past professional rival. As the night unfolds, Hedda attempts to manipulate each of them in different ways-threatening to unravel the very life she's celebrating.

This picture is directed by Nia DaCosta (The Marvels) and stars Tessa Thompson (Creed), Nina Hoss (Tár), Nicholas Pinnock (Captain America: The First Avenger), and Imogen Poots (Vivarium).

I wanted to like this movie more than I did. The cast is excellent and delivers strong performances. It's a compelling period piece-the estate, costumes, makeup, hairstyles, and settings are all beautiful and very well shot. The dialogue is sharp and witty. However, the storyline and its twists weren't as engaging as I had hoped. I didn't connect with any of the relationships, and many of the characters felt more irritating than intriguing. Much of the film plays like a collection of "rich people problems," the kind that barely qualify as problems at all but are inflated because the characters have little else to occupy them.

In conclusion, Hedda is an average-to-above-average period piece with solid performances and strong production elements. I would score it a 6/10.

Hedda Gabler (Tessa Thompson) is throwing a party at her mansion. By the end of the night, someone is getting shot and she gets interrogated.

I don't know anything about the play. Director Nia DaCosta has done some good-looking functional work. This is a costume drama. It looks good. Tessa is solid. Nina Hoss is excellent. I wouldn't mind an Altman-like drama. I am distracted by the opening reveal of the shooting. I kept treating this like a murder mystery when I should be enjoying this as a chaotic one-night character drama.

Director Nia DaCosta returns to the stage writing and directing her own version of Henrik Ibsen's play, giving a modern and daring approach to the classic theatrical piece.

Starring Tessa Thompson, Tom Bateman, Nina Hoss and Imogen Poots, the story follows a general's daughter living in a house she hates, trapped in an unhappy marriage, while a former lover reappears in her life.

Hedda is a solid film that confirms Nia DaCosta as one of the best directors working today, showcasing her talent in delivering this intense, modern, and captivating adaptation. It's an interesting journey that rests primarily on the shoulders of an outstanding Tessa Thompson, who imbues Hedda with multiple layers, making her a character who is both captivating and cruel.

The cast is one of the film's greatest strengths. Not only does Thompson dazzle, but the German actress Nina Hoss captivates with her intensity, and the always impeccable Imogen Potts completes a trio of women who fascinate in every scene. The director deconstructs Ibsen's precise mechanism and opens up space for a series of striking moments. A sensual and ingenious reinterpretation of Ibsen's classic, it respects the great theatrical tradition while transforming it into vibrant and ecstatic cinema.

With meticulous and carefully designed staging, where every corner tells a story and every light highlights what we need to see, accompanied by Hildur Guðnadóttir's evocative music that sets the pace and intensity of the narrative offered by its director. A brilliant artistic work that transports us to the essence of melodrama, representing the repression that persists to this day.

A well-made film that leaves a good impression, even if it's not perfect and may not appeal to everyone. It's entertainment worth appreciating and enjoying, especially thanks to a nuanced protagonist who dazzles with every decision her brilliant mind makes. A sensual journey that captivates without reservation.

In conclusion...

MGM presents an intriguing offering from one of today's most promising directors, achieving something unique and authentic. It's a solid film, not perfect, but perhaps it doesn't need to be. Sensual, seductive, and captivating, "Hedda" is a work worth seeing and appreciating, even with its imperfections.