I'm going to start with a confession. I originally didn't want to see this film. From when I first became aware of The Theory of Everything to seeing its trailer I just had at best a lukewarm reaction to it. I suspect a lot of people, like myself, categorise films when they first here about them or stumble across a teaser trailer into 'must see', 'I'll wait for the dvd', 'take it or leave it' and ‘not interested in the slightest’. This last category is where movies go to die as far as a I’m concerned and should I ever compile a list of said films to be avoided ‘at all costs’ it would include such gems as ‘The Twilight Franchise, Hugh Grant Rom-Coms (so basically every film he’s ever made) and Borat . There will of course be variations on a theme here. Some people may have lots more categories, some people less but for me The Theory of Everything definitely fell into the 'take it or leave it' pile.
Time for confession number two. I can't really put my finger on why. It has a great cast, Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Davis Thewlis, Emily Watson to name but a few. From what I saw in the trailer it looked like it was going to be an accurate portrayal of Stephen Hawkins life story. It appeared to look authentic with regards to the time period the story is set in. It had the feel of a film that had had a lot of money thrown at it and a film that wasn’t going to be lacking when it came to production values. The closest reason I can come up with for not being interested in watching this movie, which doesn’t paint me in a particularly favourable light, is that I wasn’t sure that I would be comfortable watching someone struggle with a disease that ultimately takes control of him and leaves him dependant on others.
Time for confession number three. I was completely and utterly wrong.
For whatever the reasons were I decided that I didn’t want to see it I can only say this. I’m going to be a lot more open to suggestion and prodding from my significant other when it comes to taking trips down to my local multiplex.
The Theory of Everything is a story based on the book that Jane Hawking, Stephen’s first wife, wrote after they separated. (Sorry, spoiler) It tells the tale form when they first met at Cambridge in 1963 to Stephen receiving his CBE from the Queen in the early eighties. It shows Hawking and his brilliant academic mind slowly losing control of his body and succumbing to Motor Neurone Disease. A short aside here. I didn’t know that ‘Lou Gehirg’s Disease’ and Motor Neurone Disease where the same thing. You learn something new every day.
At the films core it’s a love story. A story of struggle and compassion and the sacrifice it takes to care for someone who is slowly losing physical control. A chronicle about a marriage and the struggle of a wife who is having to balance the twenty hour care Hawking needs with raising a family and somehow finding the inner strength to do both. The film lives and dies with its two central performances. Eddie Redmayne, whose last two films sawing him having a seven day dalliance with Marilyn Monroe and then belting out the odd tune in revolutionary France and Felicity Jones who has managed to compile a short but impressive body of work including ‘Dr Who’ and ‘Breathe In’ with Guy Pearce.
Eddie and Felicity complement each other very well. There is definitely chemistry between them and when they are on screen together they both come across as vulnerable and compassionate. However its Eddie’s portrayal of Hawking that real does stand out. Until recently I had thought that Benedict Cumberbatch was not only a shoe in for a Best Actor nomination at the Oscars for his role as Alan Turning in ‘The Imitation Game’, he’d also walk away with the thirteen and a half inch golden statue as well. Now I’m not so sure. Eddie Redmayne puts in the sort of performance that people will be talking about for a very long time. It’s one of those iconic performances that don’t come along too often. Sir Ben Kingsley’s Ghandi and Dustin Hoffman’s Rain Man are stand out roles that will be forever associated with those actors and I truly believe that Redmayne’s Stephen Hawking should be mentioned in the same category. His portrayal of Hawking as he fights to continue with his academic work as his body fails him is nothing short of remarkable. Even more so when you consider that for the last half an hour of the film he doesn’t actually talk and he verbal communications are handled by his now world famous American voice box.
The Director of The Theory of Everything, James Marsh, has made a very compelling film here. With a lot of subject matter to cover here James, along with screenwriter Anthony McCarten, have put together a film that doesn’t feel overblown or too long. In fact I think it could have been longer without it being detrimental to the film itself. It’s a moving film at times and has light hearted moments too, including Hawking having a hug from Queen Victoria.
As I mentioned before the supporting cast aren’t exactly there just to make up the numbers either. David Thewlis plays Dennis Sciama, Hawking’s mentor whilst he studies at Cambridge and ultimately becomes one of his most trusted and valued friends. Emily Watson doesn’t get much screen time but you know she is there when she does. An honourable mention should also go to Charlie Cox who plays Johnathan Heller Jones. He’s character is central to both Jane and Stephen’s lives and without him everything could have been very different. A gentle and broken soul who himself has had to deal with his own personal tragedy.
James Marsh seems to be good at everything he tries his hand at and if you like The Theory of Everything and you have ninety four minutes spare I would also recommend you watch the documentary ‘Man on Wire’ that Marsh made in 2008. A completely different subject matter but equally compelling.
Twitter Review:
Redmayne & Jones are enthralling. See the film, read the book, buy the t-shirt. The Theory of everything is a 5 star triumph.
#TimeHeals
Useful Links:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2980516/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Salz7uGp72c
http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/review.asp?FID=138755
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