The Theory of Everything (2014) (English Language)

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123min

Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Harry Lloyd …and more

Writers: Anthony McCarten & Jane Hawking

Eddie Redmayne stars as Stephen Hawking and Felicity Jones as his wife Jane in an English period-piece drama about the complex relationship between one of the greatest minds in modern human history and his extraordinary wife.

If like us you thought this film would be your typical stylish British period-biopic with extraordinary people triumphantly conquering obstacles then you may be pleasantly surprised.

Yes it is perhaps unrealistically visually styled and the people are extraordinary, and of course there is perhaps no greater obstacle to overcome than a degenerative debilitating disease like Motor neurone disease (ALS), but this film is much more a love story between these two people than a chronicle of Professor Hawking’s life, if that’s is what you’re looking for then this movie is not for you.

The portrayal of the life led by these two people through the inevitable degeneration of Hawking’s physical state is surprisingly moving, there is not much focus on Hawking’s achievements as a Physicist, which are extraordinary, but rather on the significance of these achievements given the difficulties he faced and how he connected with other human beings.

Redmayne’s and Jones’s performances are certainly worthy of the acclaim and nominations they have already received and they will be strong contenders throughout the awards season, not least because the American awards seem to love this kind of English period-biopic.

The film is still a glossy drama and sure there is an element of dramatic license, plus you are never going to see a gritty realistic representation of the everyday struggles even these kind of people surely went through, despite this The Theory of Everything is still a moving and surprisingly touching romance and is far more deserving of praise than some of the recent British period films that have been generously awarded.