Here we are again for our grand, spectacular, 252nd film! Did you miss the celebrations for the 250th? Yes, so did we!
Anyway this week it's a biopic, we do love a good biopic and hopefully this is one, sit back relax, put them feet up and wonder about;
The Theory of Everything
Where shall we start with the Theory of Everything? Well, it you didn't know already, it follows the early life of Stephen Hawking, from college days to just after A Brief History of Time is published and everything in between. It is based on Jane Hawking's book; "Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen" which we implore you to read, either before or after seeing this absolutely superb film!
The film traces quite brilliantly the personal battles of Stephen as he is diagnosed with Motor Neuron disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to be exact. The diagnosis comes when his superb cosmologist mind is working through theories in his early period at Cambridge University and just when his relationship with Jane Wilde is starting to blossom. So we get a multi-layered story which not only focuses on the scientific facts and theories, but you have the romance from the relationship between Stephen and Jane, plus you have the over-arching story of Stephen and his remarkable, and it is truly remarkable, life.
There's really not much more to say about the story, it is fascinating, it is very real and it is totally inspiring. Yes, we like the Prof!
However, this is a film blog and not a Stephen Hawking fan site, so to the film. First and foremost much kudos should go to Eddie Redmayne for his Oscar winning portrayal of Stephen Hawking. Redmayne clearly studied Hawking carefully, for he mimics with tender accuracy the body language, subtle nuances and facial expressions of Hawking. Taking a somewhat difficult subject matter and portraying it with such pathos and endearance is just sheer brilliance and a credit to Redmayne. That Oscar is well deserved.
Alongside Redmayne you have the delightful Felicity Jones, who we have seen in a few TNiFN films; Cheerful Weather for the Wedding and the more recently seen; Cemetery Junction. Jones is ideal as Jane Hawking, a seemingly weak and shy individual, but this outer view belies the inner strength of a determined woman, who has vowed to stick with Stephen to the bitter end, which in the early days was only going to be about two years, but how things changed? More details to be found in the book or the film.
Surrounding these two main characters you have a multitude of supporting cast members each of whom play their small or slightly larger parts to progress the story with energy, sympathy and humour. And that's what we keep coming back to; the story. Aside from the totally magnificent acting from Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones it is the exceptional story that delights the viewer of this film. Many people may have shunned the idea of a film about Stephen Hawking, thinking it may be too high brow, intellectual, steeped in science or not a biography that they would necessarily choose, but the thing is it is based on Jane Hawking's biography of her life with Stephen and this is where that twist comes in, it's not all about the wondrous and extraordinary life of Stephen, it is the sub stories, how his life has affected others. It's not just about the brilliant mind of one remarkable human being, but a touching, moving and endearing story of a genius and those that surround him.
We're running out of superlatives here! Just watch the film, you will not be disappointed. This review might not be brilliant, but the film is.
TNiFN Rating 95%
IMDB Link
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