"The Theory of Everything" (2014)

The Trailer:

Director: James Marsh
Writer: Anthony McCarten (screenplay) & Jane Hawking (book)
Cast: Eddie Redmayne, & Felicity Jones
Plot Summary: The story of Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and his first wife Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones) and how their love, hope, and loyalty in one another allowed for Hawking to become to world-renowned physicist he is today, consequently resulting in their rocky marriage.

People seem to believe that science paints the world in black and white, creating neat little compartments for everything in the universe to fit in. That there can be no magic in a world that is ruled by scientific discovery and evidence. But what most people fail to recognize is the wonder, curiosity and mystery that is science: there is never any truths in science because what is proven today can be disproven tomorrow. Science is an ever changing, evolving subject. What makes it so wondrous is it's ability to inspire hope and to be discovered through hope. And The Theory of Everything encapsulates the spirit of hope in science and life perfectly. I have no complaints about this film—well maybe one, but we'll get to that later—, it is poignant, beautifully crafted, and gorgeously told.

I haven't written about Eddie Redmayne in any previous posts, though I have seen him in a few movies such as Hick, Black Death, and My Week With Marilyn and he has been amazing in each of them. He is a true artist in his craft and I can't even begin to explain to you what makes him good, he just is. But if I ever had to give an example of one of his dazzling performances to prove his acting credibility, I'd say it is in The Theory of Everything. Playing a role based on such a well-known person will always be difficult, I think, for any actor. There's the matter of resemblance, capturing mannerisms, speaking in a similar intonation, taking on the personality and/or persona and knowing that if you fail to perform one or all of these parts correctly, you will take viewers out of the illusion that you're trying to create. Not to mention that you will be criticized for not paying enough homage to the real life person you're impersonating (Have y'all heard of the backlash following Zoe Saldana portraying Nina Simone?). My point is is that Eddie Redmayne astoundingly cloaks himself in Hawking's characteristics that it's near impossible to tell actor from character. Watching Hawking's transformation from a generally healthy young man to a man succumbing to the crippling effects of ALS through Redmayne's portrayal is genuine and without being insensitive. I can appreciate and respect that. But let's not forget the graceful Felicity Jones. I haven't seen her in any of her other films, so I didn't know what to expect from her. Actually, I had no expectations for her, really other than for her to be a good counterpart to Redmayne's performance. But I was blown away by how much heart and soul she brought to this film. In most instances, like the real Jane Hawking (maiden name: Wilde), Jones is the backbone of the film. Next to Redmayne's absolute portrayal of Stephen, Jones' emotionally charged yet fierce portrayal of Jane is complimentary. Jones and Redmayne have such a genuine chemistry that allows for us viewers to become completely engrossed and invested in the story they're telling. So bravo to both actors.

Now the story. The Theory of Everything is a testament to what hope, love, and mutual encouragement can accomplish in life. It's heartbreaking, tear-jerking (I guarantee you will cry with this one, or at least tear up), and inspirational all at once. We see how the challenges Stephen Hawking face have no bearing on his career and his passion for his family and how Jane's resolute bravery and strength through it all results in a film of tremendous highs and soul crushing lows. Place pathos aside for a minute, though, and I have some concerns. The film in all of its glory and beauty seems to lack a focal point other than the relationship of Stephan and Jane. And while this isn't necessarily a bad thing, there is still something missing. The Theory of Everything is based on a book by Jane Hawking, so it would be assumed that the film would focus more on how her life changed and how she dealt with Stephen's disabilities and his celebrity, yet that's not the case. Instead we get a film that doesn't delve too deeply into either of their psyches during their marriage, which is a bit disappointing. There's also the sense of trying to cram a span of thirty years into a two hour runtime, which leaves everything feeling a bit shallow. And most importantly, I would've liked for there to be a bit more detail about Stephen's scientific discoveries. Yes, I realize that that isn't the point of this film, but his physicist accomplishments are only ever mentioned in passing.

Other than that last paragraph, I found The Theory of Everything to be an enjoyable, heartfelt film. I wish there was a bit more to it, but as it is now it is a masterpiece of a biopic about a truly great man. I cried about every five seconds, and for me, that solidifies it as a film that will always hold a special place in my cinema heart. Would I watch it again? Yes, but not any time soon because I can't put myself through that kind of heartbreak again!