The Theory of Everything

Remember back in 2010 when a really hip, edgy, exciting movie named The Social Network lost every award to a dull borefest named The King's Speech? Well, that might be this year but just replace The Social Network with Birdman and replace The King's Speech with either Boyhood or The Theory of Everything.  I'm not saying The Theory of Everything is a bad movie. It is, in fact, nice, and well acted and interesting, just like The King's Speech was. But it's far from exciting or intense. It doesn't have the same frenetic energy as a game changer like Birdman.

The Theory of Everything is the story of the college years of Stephen Hawking (played by Eddie Redmayne) including his relationship with first wife Jane (Felicity Jones) and his decent into illness when he is diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease and given two years to live.  And just because the movie didn't necessarily hold my interest at all times, the life of Hawking is pretty extraordinary.  The smartest man in any room, when he finds out that he will slowly lose control of his muscles and lose the ability to walk and talk and even breathe, the first question he asks is, what about the brain?

And here is where I think the movie lost me. I'm not necessarily a science minded person, but I was much more interested in learning much more about Hawking's scientific achievements.  I get that he is this brilliant mind but I wanted to know much more about the body of work of a man who can't bathe himself or speak or type who one day decides to write a book. That is extraordinary,  but it seems like the movie largely glosses over these issues and focuses on the relationship aspect of the film, which would be fine except for the fact that Redmayne and Jones have zero chemistry.  It's hard to root for a couple when you are pretty sure they would be much better off as friends anyway.

Where the movie largely succeeds is in the performances.  Felicity Jones is solid as Jane, the brilliant wife who manages to study Spanish medieval poetry, join the church choir,  raise three kids and take care of a husband whose health is quickly declining. You can leave this movie thinking the woman is a saint (and it's based on her memoirs so maybe that's what she would like you to think). Redmayne is most impressive. In a performance like this, it is easy to fall into the realm of mimicry, but he never does. His physical transformation is impressive and he's bound to be Oscar nominated for his heart wrenching and utterly committed performance. He leaves it all on the screen and even if the movie sometimes falters, Redmayne never does.

Grade: B-