Marval Movie

The Theory of Everything is a movie that you'd have to be made of stone to not be moved by. One of the greatest geniuses in the history of the world being trapped in his own body, but still through all of the roadblocks has been able to communicate this thoughts and ideas to the world through miracles in technology.

We open with a young, eager Stephen (Eddie Redmayne) in Cambridge University, he is clearly brilliant and has his own social awkwardness. One day he attends a party where there is also a young pretty girl named Jane (Felicity Jones) their eyes meet across the room, they slowly work their way towards each-other before the first words out of Stephens mouth are "Science" and hers are "Art". Don't you know exactly how this is gonna go.

They of course get into a relationship but then there is the day of news that we all knew was coming. Stephen is told that he has motor neuron disease. The doctor gives him approximately two years. Stephen of course pushes everyone away but Felicity will stay by Stephen to the end, if they only have two years, she'll take it.

Over the course of their life together Stephens body begins to deteriorate one bit at a time. He must lay down to maneuver the stairs, basic use of cutlery is very difficult and eventually he must sleep in the kitchen. But always, with whatever obstacle comes up Jane deals with it.

The truly great part of this movie is Eddie Redmayne. Through his make-up and dedication to the increasing condition he delivers a truly, startlingly accurate depiction of Stephen Hawking to the point where I had to look very closely to make sure that it wasn't the real Hawkins on-screen. Even then I wasn't sure.

Director James March has directed a few documentaries in his career and that's how he shoots the movie.  Apart from a few of the more whimsical scenes the characters are shot more unbiasedly and marsh decides to show them in a more un-cinematic way.

Over the course of the movie it plays out more like a television movie. Ultimately what we have is an amazing performance within an otherwise mundane movie. There is nothing bad about it, but also nothing to make it shine.

Rating: 3 stars out of 4

Note: While this movie is fine as well. If you are interested in a story of Stephen Hawkins then seek out the TV movie "Hawking" where we also get a a great portrayal of the man by Benedict Cumberbatch. This is a movie that plays out like a TV movie because it is.