IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
My Rating: 4/5
Eddie Redmayne stars in James Marsh’s “The Theory of Everything,” a biographical drama about Stephen Hawking’s health, marriage and other struggles.
Initial release: 7 November 2014 (USA)
Box office: 12.37 crores USD
Cast:
Genre: romance, drama, biography
Running Time: 124 Minutes
"The Theory of Everything" portrays the lifestory of Stephen Hawking. It's a beautiful depiction of life, mishaps, struggle, bonds and hardwork. This movie according to me is one of the best biopics ever made. The storyline is real, the acting is mesmerising and the bonds shown are absolutely beautiful. A lot of work was put into this movie to make it seem realistic and they were successful in their endeavor to provide something beautiful.
It is a daunting task for all directors to present the life of Hawking and his accomplishments. James Marsh sidesteps the pitfalls by focusing on Hawking's marriage, and eventual separation, from wife Jane. Considering the film is based on Jane Hawking nee Wilde's memoirs also gives it a different perspective. So, you may not learn enough about Space Time Singularity or Black Holes but you would gain an insight into the personal life of the man who set about studying time after doctors told him he had precious little left.
James Marsh's biopic of Stephen Hawking works at a visceral level because of the fine performances of the two leads. Watch this film, which has got multiple awards, to know about the man behind the celebrated scientist. This biopic depicts Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) as a partying, rowing Cambridge student, interested in the "physics of lust", bantering with buddy Brian (Lloyd). Hawking is brilliant but too lazy, giving Professor Sciama (Thewlis) answers scrawled on train schedules, meeting Jane (Felicity Jones) at a party, the pretty languages student bowled over by the awkward, charming young man. Love's blossoming when Hawking is told he has motor neuron disease, his muscles will degenerate - and he has just two years to live. Jane insists on marrying Stephen - but their journey isn't simple.
Muscle decay continues and Hawking is confined to a wheelchair. His speech is slurred, his movements erratic but his brain is functioning at its max. He soon becomes a celebrated scientist whose theory regarding the birth and death of universe is nothing short of revolutionary. With his mulish cheerfulness and naughty sense of humour, Hawking refuses to give into his disability. Absorbed in the search of his elusive theory, he takes Jane for granted and maintains they are a normal family. She says they are not. Need for succor and an upstanding friendship make her turn to choirmaster Jonathan (Charlie Cox), who soon becomes an intimate family friend. He will go onto become her second husband.
Playing Hawking - humourous, luminous, increasingly dark as his body gives way despite his mind and heart growing - Eddie Redmayne delivers a stupendous performance. There are scenes when Redmayne can only express thorough his eyes and the anger and anguish of his glances are extraordinary, just like his naughty grins at nurse Elaine (Peak), who efficiently manages his moods and his reading of Penthouse. Alongside, Felicity Jones presents a powerful Jane.
The music and cinematography add glow to the already thriving movie. Those searching for science lessons maybe disappointed as it provides only fleeting science scenes. Instead, this biopic focuses more on the emotional side of the man behind the celebrated scientist. It is a great watch, worthy of your time.