REVIEW: Strong acting in ‘Hedda’ overshadowed by lack of substance

Oh, it’s the aristocracy being completely off the walls on screen again.

“Hedda” is the latest film adaptation of the 1891 stage play “Hedda Gabler.”In this version, the picture is set in England during the 1950s and centers on the character Hedda Gabler Tesman. Portrayed by Tessa Thompson, Hedda is in a strained marriage to her husband, George, who’s hosting an event to secure a university position.

That party, though, is crashed by an author named Eileen (Nina Hoss), a woman who’s also vying for the university job and also had a relationship with Hedda in the past. What follows is a night of scheming, betrayals and even bloodshed.

“Hedda” is a film that both has a lot going on in chaotic fashion, and doesn’t really have anything tangible for an audience. There’s plenty of scheming, relationship drama and career maneuvering taking place over the course of the runtime, yet so much of it feels lacking. There’s such little to connect with in what’s shown.

The extravagance is there, there’s an abundance of snappy dialogue and intense conversations. Yet there’s not really a richness or deeper sense of humanity at play with it. The film just doesn’t feel very substantive. There’s not enough to grasp to be fully captivating. Instead, it all feels overly performative.

The film is never boring or dull, which is a positive. Again, there’s a lot happening, but none of the emotional beats really hit a viewer. There’s some entertainment value, but a person doesn’t feel much in watching the situations develop.

It’s too bad because the acting is rather spirited here. Tessa Thompson brings definite passion to the titular character. The central figure has an attitude, a fierceness, and a viewer can easily see the gears are always spinning in her head. Thompson is often a powerful figure on screen in any work and that’s true here.

Hoss, who was spectacular in 2022’s “Tar,” is also quite strong in “Hedda.” She portrays another fiery character in the picture, and does so with gusto. The rest of the supporting cast is likewise fine to watch. Yet the material they work with fails to fully resonate at many points in the picture.

There’s definitely a sharpness to the script, the performances and the plot development, yet at the end of the day it doesn’t seem like all that much is being cut. One watches as things unfold, accusations are made and mayhem ensues without it ever feeling fully gripping.

An audience can at least appreciate some of the technical aspects at play. The film’s production, set and costume design are all on point. There was clear attention to detail in recreating the time period and the luxurious atmosphere. Director Nia DaCosta and her crew did admirable work with the film’s mise-en-scène and overall deliver a solid visual style.

Yet what’s good for the eyes doesn’t make for a complete cinematic experience. There were good efforts in front of and behind the camera here. Yet the film doesn’t thrill, put a viewer on edge or hit emotionally, when that’s what a movie with this kind of subject matter should really do. Unfortunately, it ultimately feels rather hollow. 2.5 out of 5.