The Theory of Everthing

After the Academy Awards, I decided I wanted to see all of the films nominated this year. So, last Sunday I rented The Theory of Everything, snuggled up with my mom & sister, and watched one of the most impressive films I have ever seen.

It opens with Hawking, played by Eddie Redmayne, as a gifted, young, cosmology student at Cambridge who meets and falls in love with Jane Wilde, a charismatic art student, played by Felicity Jones. Hawking receives devastating news early in the relationship: a diagnosis of ALS and a grim prognosis of only 2 years to live. Despite this death sentence, Jane marries Stephen and they start a family. Stephen's body slowing deteriorates, requiring Jane to become his full time caregiver, along with caring for their children

and finishing her studies. While his body wilts, his mind still functions at full capacity and he completes his doctorate, studying the origin of time. Even when he can no longer talk, he uses a computer that tracks his eye movement to communicate and publish his works. Essentially, the story follows the ups & downs of his relationship with Jane and their struggle with his awful disease. He was given 2 years to live in 1963 and is still alive today. Although wheelchair bound and reliant on a ventilator, his mind is still incredibly sharp.

The performance Redmayne gave portraying the intelligent Dr. Stephen Hawking was absolutely brilliant. I was surprised when he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, to say the least, since there were many nominees that seemed to deserve it. Birdman was getting a lot attention, so I sort of figured Michael Keaton was a shoe-in for the win. However, now that I have seen The Theory of Everything, my tune has changed. Redmayne's performance as a progressing ALS patient was incredibly accurate. The way he held his body and face, as well as, his communication degradation while still staying in character was impressive. He certainly deserved the Oscar he earned. Everyone must see The Theory of Everything. EVERYONE. 9.8/10