The life and times of astrophysicist Stephen Hawking and his wife Jane are portrayed in the new British film, The Theory of Everything. Inspired by Jane Hawking’s memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life With Stephen, the film tells the remarkable story of one of the most successful living physicists.
The film picks up when Stephen Hawking is attending graduate school at the University of Cambridge and meets Jane, a fellow student whom he falls quickly and deeply in love with. The brilliant, active, and somewhat brash Stephen appears to have a bright future, until he receives a life-altering diagnosis at age 21.
30As he is given a life expectancy of two years, Stephen has to now navigate through school, relationships, and life with motor neuron disease. The film follows Jane as she devotedly takes care of Stephen, and Stephen’s determined effort to make new discoveries in science.
Hawking’s scientific research was focused on the nature of time, a theme that the film in turn focuses on. Throughout the film, it is shown how time tests the bonds between two people, and how it is unknown how much of it we really have.
The film comes from the beautiful vision of director James Marsh who creates an emotional and affectionate tribute to Hawking. He takes a true love story and doesn’t portray it in the conventional, sappy way. Marsh wants to be honest about Stephen and Jane’s relationship, and doesn’t hold back from putting the audience through the emotional and tumultuous journey of it.
Eddie Redmayne, who portrays Stephen Hawking, delivers a nuanced performance having to act out Hawking’s disease. Redmayne is a convincing and compelling Hawking, so much so that I almost forgot that I was watching a movie. He isn’t afraid to look pathetic and helpless, and that allows him to give an exceptionally poignant performance. Whether he is dragging himself up a flight of stairs or is unable to pick up a fork to feed himself, Redmayne moves the audience to feel an immense amount of sympathy for not only Hawking, but for his family as well. Redmayne does an exceptional job at making the audience forget that he is not the real Hawking.
Jane Hawking is portrayed by Felicity Jones, and she too delivers a very captivating performance. As the wife to a physically helpless man, Jones captures the indefatigable position of taking care of Stephen. Jones embodies the pain that grows over time in Jane’s heart from not being in a normal relationship.
The Theory of Everything is a celebration of life in all of its beauty and sadness. The film is not so much about physics and Hawking’s monumental scientific discoveries, but rather is a tribute to relationships, love, and life itself. It is a film that goes beyond just being a biopic; it is a story that can resonate with people of all ages. I predict a lot of success and maybe Oscar nominations; everything from the acting to the screenplay is sure to get a lot of attention.