Like most people, I knew little to nothing about the details of Stephen Hawking’s life. I became curious to watch the movie about Hawking's life when I heard that Eddie Redmayne had won the academy award for best actor for his performance in the film. After having experienced this movie, I was brought to tears by Hawking’s unbelievable struggles not only with ALS, but with his work and his devoted wife. Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones gave a performance of a lifetime in this remarkably emotional and captivating biopic.
The script was based on the book by Jane Hawking, Hawking's first wife, starting off with intellectual quips and charmingly modest flirtatious advances by young Stephen Hawking in the first few opening scenes. Redmayne’s portrayal of Hawking in his college days is surprisingly refreshing. Having seem film adaptations of real life intellects like John Nash Jr. in “A Beautiful Mind” and Alan Turing in “The Imitation Game,” I was expecting young Hawking to be introverted, arrogant and self-centered. But Redmayne’s rendition of Stephen Hawking was the total opposite. Hawking is portrayed perfectly as witty, fun, sociable, creative and very much in love when he meets young Jane Wild.
Later in life, Redmayne portrays a fiercely independent, unwaveringly optimistic and defiant quadriplegic, whose pursuit of the theory for creation leads to breakthroughs in his work examining the mysteries of the universe and the relativity of time in our universe, but also how precious time on earth can be. This is seen when Hawking falls madly in love with Jane Wilde and as his condition worsens, he starts to see that their once fiercely devote relationship has changed.
Eddie Redmayne’s performance rivals the extraordinary depiction of Daniel Day Lewis in “My Left Foot”. Both performances portray severely handicapped geniuses who overcome overwhelming obstacles to pursue love and ambition. Redmayne’s portrayal of Hawking is captivating through his visual quirks and movements. His mischievous smirks and undulating grin gives light to a remarkably motivated impetus, which is Stephen Hawking’s unwaveringly positive spirit.
This film leaves out carnal desires and selfish initiative, that Hollywood desensitizes modern viewers to, and instead tells the story of an uncharacteristic romance and friendship that will strike emotional chords in your heart and cascade sympathetic tears upon your face. “The Theory of Everything” is one of the most inspirational and emotionally poignant movies that I have ever seen. This movie will make you cherish your time on earth and the people that you have the opportunity to share it with, while showing you the humanizing story behind one of the most brilliant minds of our generation.
