The Theory of Everything

Film Review (2)

Nahida Hamidy

Film Appreciation MM 100

Dr. Stewart Blakley

March 13, 2015

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The Theory of Everything

The Theory of Everything is the story of British Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking,

superbly played by Oscar Winning Best Actor Eddie Redmayne. Set at Cambridge University in

England, this film exposes the pain of a debilitating disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

This film is based on the true story of Hawking’s experience in college, meeting his wife, and

maturing under different physical circumstances as a scientist, husband, and father. The story

begins when Hawking profoundly falls in love with a fellow student, who is both beautiful and

intelligent, Jane Wilde, played by Felicity Jones. They are a normal couple until Hawking falls

on his face on campus and is diagnosed with a motor neuron disease and given an estimated two

years to live. Jane courageously demonstrates her unconditional love by making the decision to

marry him. Hawking becomes less and less able to control his movement and continues to

depend upon the support of his wife. After three children and more than thirteen years together,

Hawking miraculously survives and continues yet today to develop his theories. However, the

marriage mutually dissolves along with Hawking’s physical condition, but the couple’s amiable

relationship continues to this day.

The Theory of Everything is based on the memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with

Stephen by Jane Hawking. The Screenwriter is Anthony McCarten. The film is directed by James

Marsh, who won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2008 for the movie Man

on Wire (Rotten Tomatoes, 2014). In the film, Jane is willing to give up her education and

career aspirations to love and nurture Stephen. The film primarily focuses on the personal life of

Stephen and Jane and how they build a life together under intense and extreme physical

obstacles.
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The Theory of Everything exposes how two people fall in love and connect emotionally

and intellectually but not necessarily spiritually. Jane thinks that Hawking will not live longer

than three years, but she is convinced that they were meant to be together. His father challenges

Jane about her marriage to his son, and she poignantly responds, “ I know I don’t look like a

terrible strong person, but I love him and he loves me. We are going to fight this illness

together.” She proves her patience and tolerance for Hawking’s condition when she decides to

quit school to be able to care for him and become a housewife and mother. She miraculously

conceives and gives birth to three children, staying strong even when facing arrogant in-laws

who challenge her regarding the paternity of the third child. This scene evokes anger and

frustration for the viewer when you consider how Jane has persevered and seems uncomplaining

and unflappable.

The film director did an excellent job of developing both of their characters throughout

the film, the tension that exist between them, and Hawking’s dignity in the midst of a debilitating

disease. The character development of the main character, Stephen, is remarkable. The

progression of his Lou Gehrig’s disease and the way the actor Eddie Redmayne evokes empathy

and believability are phenomenal. As Mr. Lumbard mentions, “Redmayne ‘s performance feels

like the work of an accomplished actor hoping to be as faithful to telling the story of Stephen

Hawking as possible” (DVDtalk.com , 2015). I agree and would like to add that he actually takes

on the physical characteristics of Hawking himself. The progression of the disease in his body,

eating, and swallowing is plausible, and the subtle nuances of the turning his head adds to

Redmayne’s credibility in his portrayal of an intelligent man struggling in a wasting body. The

ironic character development of Jane Wilde presents her as a foil to Hawking with their

contrasting personalities in the film. Felicity Jones honestly portrays Wilde’s transition from a
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graduate student to a fulltime housewife after she quits school and spends all of her time taking

care of her disabled husband like a nurse. Even after experiencing feelings for someone else she

does not leave her husband until he releases her.

The art of cinematography was excellently done with a high production sheet. Benoit

Delhome uniquely filmed certain segments to appear as if they were filmed by a home hand-held

camera from the 1960s. It was obvious that the movie was physically filmed in the location of

Cambridge where the architecture, horticulture, housing, and accents placed the viewer in the

environment. Jane’s costume in the first party of the film automatically made me realize that part

of the movie is set in the 1960s and 1970s, while in the last scene her costume suggests the

movie has progressed to the turn of the century. The accents and dialogue exchanged throughout

the movies make you understand the differences of British accents. The lighting, coloring, and

custom arrangements all over the film vividly give the viewer the sense that the movies

progresses from 1960s until now.

The idea of this movie is the truth of human nature. The way that Stephen does not give

up and continuously works on his theories, even after the doctor directly tells him that his

estimated life is not more than three years. He is still alive today. It shows that keeping alive the

hope within you can prove even science wrong, and it makes him believe that there is a creator,

who is bigger than our thoughts and researches, and leads him to become monotheistic. The role

of Jane describes the idea of the truth of human nature as well. From the beginning, when she

decides to marry Stephen, give up all her desires to be with the one she loves and struggle with

all life’s problems on her own.

Hawking is a famous scientist with many accomplishments, discoveries and theories. I

agree with A. O. Scott’s statement in his review about the presentation of the Hawking’s
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personality; I realized after watching the movie that the director Marsh couldn’t present

Hawking’s scientific energy (The New york Times, 2014). However, Christy Lemire does not

sound content with the substantive part of the movie in her review. She thinks that a deeper

research should have been conducted with regard to Hawking’s story (rogerebert.com 2014).

Unlike Lemire, I believe the important facts of Hawking’s story were very well portrayed and

researched. Given the time limitation of the movie, it is not possible to depict all of the subtle

features of his life story in two hours.

This film has many admirable messages. Hope, love and inspiration are the most

meaningful words that can describe the movie. The significant message of the film is to live life

as Stephen Hawking continues to live it: to have hope and to not give up. Because he did not lose

hope, Hawking is able to accomplish his goals in life. Love and dedication is another strong

pillar of this movie that inspired me. I am amazed by Jane Wilde’s love and dedication to a

disabled person. This incredibly encouraging love story further demonstrates the way love

bounds two persons in hard situations of life and keeps them motivated and strong to tackle all

challenges. I do highly recommend that everyone should watch this movie once.
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References

Lumbard, N. The Theory of Everything (Blu-ray) (2015, March 1). Retrieved March 13, 2015,

from

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/67302/theory-of-everything-the/

The Theory of Everything (2014). (n.d.). Retrieved March 10, 2015, from

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_theory_of_everything_2014/

Scott, A. Marriage Is Hard, Physics Is Easy(2014, November 6). Retrieved March 13, 2015,

from

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/07/movies/in-the-theory-of-everything-stephen-

hawkings-home-life.html?_r=0

Lemire, CThe Theory of Everything Movie Review (2014) | Roger Ebert. (2014, November 7).

Retrieved March 13, 2015, from

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-theory-of-everything-2014