The Theory of Everything (2014)

The Theory of Everything (2014)

Directed by: James Marsh

Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, and Charlie Cox.

Plot: Stephen Hawking is a brilliant astrophysics student at Cambridge University in 1963.  When he attends a party, he meets Jane Wilde, an arts student, and they instantly hit it off.  After a few more meetings and a date at the school carnival, their relationship grows into romance.  At around this time, Stephen begins to work on his thesis about how the universe began.  Unfortunately, he is suddenly diagnosed with motor neuron disease (which causes his body to become inactive) and told that he has two years to live.  After hearing this news, Stephen and Jane decide that they will stick together no matter what, and quickly get married and have a son.  But despite not being able to walk and talk, Stephen keeps living, making life increasingly more difficult for Jane and their family.  Will their marriage continue, or will it deteriorate from stress and pain?

Good: If nothing else, this movie is incredibly well acted.  Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking is nothing short of Oscar-worthy.  His performance before he's diagnosed is very charming an charismatic, which makes the audience sympathize with him when his bay begins to fail him.  He also does an excellent job when he's immobile, conveying the physicality the part while also maintaining the emotion.  Despite not moving the majority of his body, Redmayne is able to show the audience what he's thinking and feeling though subtle facial expressions and movements.  Felicity Jones also does a great job as Jane Hawking