The Theory of Everything Film Critique

Film Critique/ Analysis #13

Michael Atkinson

Cinema 28

Heartfelt, Brilliant, and Moving

In a true life story, The Theory of Everything (2014), a British film directed by James Marsh, brilliantly captures the true life story of famous theorist Stephen Hawking. Even from the very beginning of this film, we see the signs of Hawking’s uphill battle with a motor neuron disease. From there, the film only progresses into an outstanding and truly moving story of the lengths Jane Wilde, a literature student who falls in love with Hawking, will go for him. They develop a quick romantic relationship and even when she finds out about his disease, she refuses to leave his side and says she will always stay with him. Thus the two marry and even begin a family. But the story doesn’t end there - in fact, it is only beginning. As the years go on, Hawking’s condition worsens and he relies completely on Jane to dress him and even feed him. And the struggles only continue when new loves are thrown into the equation.

One might assume that this film, being primarily about Stephen Hawking, would be loaded down with him complex theories and physics jargon, but that is not the case at all. Marsh makes Hawking’s theories easy to understand by explaining them through dialogue to other characters using simple analogies, and even still those moments are rare. This film focuses more on the domestic aspect of his life and the struggles of trying to be a normal family. 

Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones star as Stephen and Jane and I swear, if neither of them win any kind of award for their performances, then I will give up all hope on film. Redmayne’s incredible acting in this film can be likened to Patty Duke’s performance in The Miracle Worker (1962). It was truly as captivating, believable, and realistic, evicting emotions in the viewer that even I was having a hard time controlling. Just down to the way he was able to train his body to tick, slouch, and curve is unbelievably amazing. 

The only gripe I can even find fault with in this film is that it moved rather quickly. And that is understandable in order to condense Stephen Hawking’s entire life into two hours. But in this necessary haste, some scenes would cut away a bit too quickly and wouldn’t stay on that picture just a moment longer. And honestly, this was what made the difference between shedding tears and not. If the camera would have just stayed on a face for just a few frames longer, I would’ve bawled but instead cutting away too quickly silenced those emotions and brought me someplace new where I could hide those feelings again. 

I’m not sure what was the most intriguing and entertaining aspect of this film, perhaps it was the cinematography or the acting or their impossible-to-resist-swooning British accents. But in all, this film was really a treat, making me believe that there is hope in good cinema even for today.