Review // The Theory of Everything

Stephen Hawking may be the most recognizable scientist in the world. The doctor belongs to that small group of men – Carl Sagan, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye – able to shed the lab coat and become true pop culture figures.  That pop culture status has been further solidified for Mr. Hawking by James Marsh’s new biopic The Theory of Everything. Named for the enigmatic idea that one beautiful equation exists to explain the entirety of existence, it’s an ambitious title for a film that could use a bit more ambition when it comes to it’s storytelling.

Eddie Redmayne stars as Hawking who, when we first meet him, is an enthusiastic young intellectual enjoying collegiate life at Cambridge University. Awkward and gawky in his thick glasses and moppish hair, he’s deceivingly charming with a mischievous sense of humour.  His twinkling eye soon lands on Jane (Felicity Jones) a young language student from a less privileged walk of life who finds herself a little out of her element at the prestigious university. Despite the class divide (or because of it) the pair find themselves drawn to each other and love story quickly blooms.

The universe is a cruel place however and, after finding himself increasingly clumsy, Hawking is diagnosed with motor neuron disease (better known as ALS), a devastating condition which aggressively takes away his ability of movement. It’s a disturbing experience watching this confident young man slowly deserted by his own body and Eddie Redmayne depicts not just the frustration and helplessness, but also the bravery with which Stephen faces his illness. Much of the will to go on comes from Jane who pushes him forward, inspiring him to develop a theory of black holes that rockets him to the forefront of the physics world.  She also builds a home around him, taking care of the couple’s growing family while defying the “experts” who regularly doubt Stephen’s chances.

Though the Hawking story has more drama and hardship than your average life, the film lacks much in the way of tension or excitement.

Eddie Redmayne has received heaps of early Oscar buzz for his portrayal, and rightfully so, but the real delight in the film is Felicity Jones. Filling the sweet and proper demeanour of Jane with determination and pride, she shines brightly as the oft-forgotten half of the Hawking legacy. As the relationship between the couple becomes strained, Jane finds herself growing close to church choir leader Jonathon (Charlie Cox). The guilt and confusion of a person suddenly in the midst of a life they never envisioned is brilliantly realized by the young actress. Perhaps it’s a symptom of the fact that the film is based on Jane’s autobiography Travelling to Infinity: My Life With Stephen, but the film often seems a more intimate portrait of Jane, than it does of the famed physicist.

Though the Hawking story has more drama and hardship than your average life, the film lacks much in the way of tension or excitement. Even the triumphant first words spoken by Stephen through his trademark computer are treated with a sort of satisfied shrug. While he’s one of the 20th century’s most important thinkers, the film leaves us wishing for a look inside his brain; and moments that could be used to delve into the science behind his theories are instead used to deliver inspirational platitudes. By skirting the science, the character of Hawking is simplified into a symbol of triumph over diversity. Though that’s not a bad thing, it’s a role Hawking himself rejected for much of his life.

For a story about a man who rewrote so much about how we understand the universe, Marsh’s film is pretty by the book. The strong performances by the lead actors are complimented by nice supporting turns from David Thewlis, Harry Lloyd and Simon McBurney.  Johann Johansson’s score is great and the photography of Benoit Delhomme give things the richness of a dusty sitting room…but in the end the film is about as exciting as just such a sitting room. Hawking the human and Hawking the scientist are both intriguing stories to tell, unfortunately it seems as if Marsh wasn’t able to decide which one he was interested in.  My high school teachers will be astounded by my saying this, but I could’ve used more science.

Reviewed by Evan Arppe.

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