The Theory of Everything (PG)
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Charlie Cox, David Thewliss
THE Theory of Everything pulls hard on your heartstrings, but has a degree of dishonesty as a biopic and does a disservice to its subject’s wife.
The film is a retelling of the life of famous cosmologist and science writer Stephen Hawking, with strong focus on his marriage to his first wife Jane Wilde.
On its own, The Theory of Everything is a poignant, profoundly moving character study. Hawking’s genius, fame, relationships and disability are all addressed without any one attribute defining him.
The tragic progression of Hawking’s motor-neurone disease (including its burden on Jane) generates some heart-wrenching moments, and his dignified perseverance is uplifting to watch.
Eddie Redmayne is a revelation as the lead – so convincing that even the real Hawking reportedly thought he was watching himself at points – and Felicity Jones is mesmerising – dainty but strong and wise – as Jane Wilde.
But The Theory of Everything stands up poorly to the full truth.
The film necessarily condenses certain events for pacing and simplifies the science, but it badly obfuscates Hawking’s views on religion, and its rose-tinted view of the man largely glosses over his fame-worsened arrogance and infidelity.
These, far more than his disability, were the main reasons for his and Jane’s divorce.
The Theory of Everything is overall a fine movie, but if you want a more accurate biopic, watch The Imitation Game.
– Seth Hynes
