Everyone has some knowledge of Stephen Hawking, whether it’s through reading his book, “A Brief History of Time,” watching a TV special on him, or even just hearing his name in passing.
Hawking is arguably the best-known theoretical physicist and cosmologist of today, and his name has permeated pop culture for decades. But though you may know who he is and what he does, there’s a good chance that you know little about his personal life. Here is where director James Marsh steps in with his most recent film, a little biopic called “The Theory of Everything.”
If you’re interested in Hawking’s celebrated career, you’ll have to look elsewhere. The story breezes over the details of his work, including just enough to convey that it is him that we’re seeing on the screen. Instead, it focuses on the relationship between him and his first wife, Jane, and on the effects of his ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).
We first see Hawking (played by Eddie Redmayne) as a young man working towards a doctorate in physics at Cambridge University, inattentive to his studies but still managing to surpass his fellow students with little effort. His interest in cosmology greatly contrasts with the Christian faith that fellow student, Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones), has, but that isn’t enough to keep the two apart, and they quickly find themselves in a serious relationship. When Hawking discovers he has a motor neuron disease and has been given two years to live, he tells Jane to move on, but she sticks with him. Spanning a timeframe that is much longer than two years, the rest of the film follows their marriage as Hawking’s motor skills slowly deteriorate.
Make no mistake: “Theory” is a very romanticized take on Hawking’s life. Unfortunately, for a story that already has half the work done (all that writer Anthony McCarten had to do was take a life lived and lay it out in a succinct fashion), the result is less than satisfactory.
Many scenes are overly cinematic, and there is plenty of dialogue that makes it painfully clear that you’re watching a film. The film also gives a biased portrayal of Hawking, an oddity in itself given that McCarten adapted the screenplay from Jane Wilde Hawkings’ memoirs, which are brutally honest. Yet numerous scenes conflict with her stories in order to romanticize his character, especially toward the end of their relationship (this is a love story, folks—accuracy be damned).
However, this is a rare case in which a film, despite having a script suited for the Hallmark channel, manages to stand proudly. The director and actors join forces to breathe life into characters that may have otherwise fallen flat on the page. It’s a fascinating lesson in reading between the lines. If you can focus on the way the characters say the lines instead of the lines themselves, you’ll fall in love with them.
Redmayne gives a performance that is nothing short of captivating. Perhaps no one could have done a better job in the role, and I wouldn’t be surprised if his name comes up on the Oscar ballots. Jones also holds her own as Jane. There is one scene near the end of the film in which the two make some weighty confessions to each other that is especially powerful.
It’s a great film for the purpose of sentimentality, and, while I wouldn’t say that you’ll know the ins and outs of Stephen Hawking’s biography by the end, I will venture to say that you will enjoy yourself. “The Theory of Everything” will be playing this month at Midtown Cinema. Come check it out!
Sammi Leigh Melville is a staff member and film reviewer at Midtown Cinema.
Midtown Cinema December Events
National Theatre Live Series
Broadway production “Of Mice and Men”
Sunday, Nov. 30, 4pm & Tuesday, Dec. 2, 7pm
“It’s a Wonderful Life”
Frank Capra’s classic holiday film
Sunday, Dec. 7, 7pm; Sunday, Dec 21, 7pm; & Wednesday, Dec. 24, 7pm
Down in Front!
Improv crew skewers “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians”
Friday, Dec. 12, 9:30ish
Saturday Morning Cartoons
Classic cartoons on the big screen
Saturday, Dec. 13, 9:30-11:30am
Mommy & Me Matinees
Early matinees every second Saturday!
Saturday, Dec. 13
“The Search for Animal Chin”
Cult skateboarding film w/Tsunami Experiment playing live soundtrack
Saturday, Dec. 13, 9pm
Foreign & Classic Series
“The Bishop’s Wife” w/Cary Grant
Sunday, Dec. 14, 6pm
3rd in The Burg $3 Movie
“Back to the Future”
Friday, Dec. 19, 9:30ish
Family Film Series
“The Muppet Christmas Carol”
Saturday, Dec. 20, 12:15pm; Sunday, Dec. 21, 1:30pm; & Monday, Dec. 22, 2:30pm
“White Christmas”
Classic Christmas musical
Saturday, Dec. 20, 12:15pm & 7pm; Monday, Dec. 22, 7pm; & Thursday, Dec. 25, 7pm
New Year’s Pajama Party
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 7pm
