

Title: The Theory of Everything

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Director: James Marsh

Starring: Eddie Redmayne. Felicity Jones, David Thewlis

Runtime: 2 hr 3 mins



What It Is: From the Academy Award Winning director of Shadow Dancer and Man on Wire comes the biopic of English astrophysicist and sufferer of motor neuron disease (an offshoot of Lou Gehrig’s Disease or ALS). A man who didn’t let this stop him from asking very broad reaching questions like those posed in his thoery of gravitational singularity. He also broke the record for consecutive weeks on the British best-seller list with his Brief History of Times which was on the list for 237 weeks. This story focuses primarily on Hawking and his relationship with his first wife Jane whom he met as a student at Cambridge during the onset of his debilitating disease.

What We Think: From the trailers you’d expect this branching and grand love story, but instead that portion of the film leaves you feeling empty. Redmayne and Jones have great chemistry throughout, but the script betrays them in the denoument. One thing I appreciate about this biopic is it’s uncompromising look into Hawkings and his life. Redmayne just excels here as the Dr. Hawkings and may see himself nominated for plenty of awards this season. It’s a transformative performance and that always seems to get the academy’s attention. Jones should get some consideration and if the nomination were coming out today she might however there’s a lot of time left for other ladies to overthrow her.

Our Grade: B, Overall it’s a decent flick but it’s odd structure really hurt it. Sometimes when you’re watching it you’re sketchy on the timeline as the cinematography and setting rarely change in the almost thirty years we’re with Hawkings. Thewlis plays his part well and he’s acceptable as a church choir runner and psuedo-nurse to Hawkings who is there to “help” Jane’s wife. Overall you’re not missing much by skipping it. It’s a love story, but it’s quickly loses it’s grip on the subjects sadly.