The Theory of Everything (2014), PG-13, ★★★1/2

Stephen Hawking and Jane Wilde meeting at a party.

Stephen Hawking. A theoretical physicist. A cosmologist. An author. A thinker. A genius. Based on his significant works, he had collaborated with Sir Roger Pemrose, a mathematician, on gravitation singularity theorems, and predicted that black holes emit radiation, now because of his contribution, it is called a Hawking radiation. He helped and also supported with quantum mechanics as he presented his explanation from his expertise of cosmology. It seemed that he would have a fantastically and unique futures that anybody cannot imagine. Unfortunately, it was unique, but in a morbid way, as he had contracted a disease that left him almost entirely paralyzed and unable to communicate verbally. But, in the center of the movie, there is a love story that a few times I rolled my eyes because of the dialogue, however, this movie because of the two strong performances and a terrific first two-thirds of the film.

The movie starts in Cambridge, England in 1963 where a young Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and his friend, Brian (Harry Lloyd) arrive at a party where Stephen first meets the lovely Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones). She is majoring in French and Spanish arts while he is studying theoretical physics as he is struggling to find a subject for his doctorate. He participates in the rowing team as she goes to church regularly. Stephen objects that an omnipotent God does not control the universe. He later meets with Jane and her family for lunch, and go to a ball where they have their first kiss.

His professor David Sciama (David Thewlis) takes his students to London to go to Roger Penrose's (Christian McKay) lecture on his theory of gravitational singularity in black holes. Hawking is inspired by his lecture and he decides to apply it to his proposed theory by applying to the entire universe, to trace it back through time. He writes mathematical equations and while researching, his hands start trembling. And while walking on campus, he stumbles and falls on the ground, hitting his head hard and falling unconscious.

Stephen visits a doctor and learns that he has a motor neuron disease which will slowly affect his muscles in his body that affect movements. His brain will not be affected, but he is given a life span of 2 years. He gets frustrated with the result and is isolated in his room while researching. Jane visits Stephen and asks to go play croquet, and as they play, he cannot perform correctly and he wishes to be left alone. However, Jane responds that she loves him and will stay with him forever for however long they have. They get married and have two children and his thesis is praised but his life still hangs on in the balance.

Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking.

As I said before, I enjoyed the first two-thirds of the film very much as it just presents how normal and unique Hawking is as a young adult and a young student. What I also enjoyed was the material before he got married with Jane. Their relationship and chemistry clicked despite their personalities being uncommon and opposite ends of the spectrum. When his disease comes in, Jane would know all of the struggles that Stephen would have forever, but even though she does not look like a strong woman, she has the voice of a strong woman and that is what is fascinating about her. There is also another movie with that approach which is the 2001's Best Picture film, A Beautiful Mind with Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly, which I think is superior to this film because of how intricate, gentle and delicate Nash's life with his brilliance and also his psychological disorders.

Eddie Redmayne gives a sublime and excellent performance which would predictably garner him award nominations, especially an Oscar nomination since the committee loves these types of performances. Heck, they gave Daniel Day-Lewis the Oscar for another great performance in My Left Foot as he just did most work with his foot. But, Redmayne captures every intricate detail and mannerism of Hawking's personality and persona with discipline and character. It is fantastic work. I also like Felicity Jones' performance in the movie but kind of simmers down a little bit to a predictable one-note and clichéd turnaround. Thewlis also does nice work in a supporting role as the professor.

I did the praise the first two-thirds, but, what prevents me from giving the movie four stars is the way how they handled the marriage aspect, especially in its downfall. It is not really a spoiler since Hawking was married a second time, but divorced quickly to resume a closer relationship with Jane and his children and grandchildren. However, the last third or almost second-half film turns into a conventional downfall and it frustrated me a little bit where it almost turns into a soap opera. But, it redeems itself with an appropriately satisfying conclusion. This movie has two great performances, a good score, nice cinematography and a brilliant first two-thirds of the film. It is a film full of romance and tragedy but also surrounds it with intellect, humor and struggle.

***1/2