Review: Redmayne, Jones captivate in ‘The Theory of Everything’

Posted on December 5, 2014

By MARK VIOLA

Perhaps the most well-recognized living scientist, Dr. Stephen Hawking is probably less well known for his actual scientific accomplishments than for his best-selling book, “A Brief History of Time,” or his disease, which has confined him to a wheelchair and forced him to utilize a computer to speak.

It’s understandable. The idea that one of the brightest minds on the planet is trapped in his own body is both fascinating and tragic. But like anyone suffering with a disease, Stephen Hawking’s sickness is not who he is, just one of his more noticeable aspects.

“The Theory of Everything,” a new film based on Hawking’s life and his marriage to Jane Wilde, sets out to give us a wider glimpse of the man, the scientist, the husband and the father.

Buoyed by two phenomenal performances by Eddie Redmayne (“Les Misérables”) and Felicty Jones (“Like Crazy”) as Stephen and Jane, the film is a powerful look at two lives connected by love, tragedy and everything else that binds two people together in marriage. It is heart-warming at times, heart-breaking at others, and utterly compelling from start to finish. Director James Marsh, who won the Best Documentary Oscar for “Man on Wire,” is able to tell an intimate story across multiple decades, giving us an intimate look at a marriage without ever feeling intrusive. Most importantly, it feels honest.

The film is rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and suggestive material.

(This is a shortened version of the full review available in our printed or e-edition papers.)

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