The Theory of Everything can be added to the list of biopics nominated everywhere this award season. It depicts the story of Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and his first wife, Jane Hawking (Felicity Jones), from the 60s to the 80s. Even if it doesn’t look like it, for me, The Theory of Everything is a movie about Jane Hawking. There’s no doubt in my mind that she is the main character here and Stephen Hawking’s story is seen through her eyes.
It’s a lovely movie, but it’s mainly a love story. There aren’t many great science explanations or depictions showing how Hawking was truly working, it’s all about his private life. It’s true that there are some elements of Hawking’s theory of the Big Crunch, saying that the universe will eventually stop expanding and will start shrinking, much like a reverse Big Bang, but that’s about it. If you ask me, It should have been called The Theory of Love and Time.
I knew part of the story before, having seen the 2004 BBC TV movie Hawking starring Benedict Cumberbatch, which is probably why I had such a hard time entering the movie. Yet it’s great to rediscover a great love story like this one. I don’t think there are many people like Jane Hawking, kinds of people that aren’t afraid of taking care of their loved ones. She knew what she was about, and she knew what she wanted and went for it. But I think she didn’t really knew what she was in for, taking care of a gravely disabled husband and raising three children almost on her own. Behind every great man, there is an even greater woman right?
Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking is incredible and the dedication it must have taken to transform his perfectly working body into an ALS-stricken one, is nothing short of tremendous. I fully believed his performance, and his stunning resemblance to Hawking helped a lot as well. Felicity Jones is a great addition to the film and carries most of it on her shoulders. I guess it’s the season to be impressed by actors because she stunned me. I remember seeing her in Northanger Abbey and hating every bit of it, and now I cannot wait to see her in future projects. The supporting cast does its job to perfection, plus, I never say no to a movie with Charlie Cox and Harry Lloyd.
One last thing that bothered me a little was that even if it’s lovely, it remains flat. Some scenes are useless and it felt a bit too long. Sure at times it’s heartbreaking, at others it’s heartwarming, but there was a lot of wasted time. However, that didn’t stop me from liking The Theory of Everything, it doesn’t have to be perfect!
Nominated for several Oscars, The Theory of Everything has the potential to win big, but it’s becoming clearer and clearer that Eddie Redmayne is going to snatch the Oscar for Best Actor in a Motion Picture, as he did in several major award ceremony so far, including the SAG Awards and the Golden Globes. Overall, if you like love story, British movies and biopics, I strongly recommend that you see The Theory of Everything.
Rating: 4/5
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