Review by Milo

The true-life story of Professor Stephen Hawking comes alive wonderfully in this new film The Theory of Everything. Set in his last year studying at the prestigious Cambridge University, we are introduced to Hawking (played by Eddie Redmayne) as he is beginning his thesis on time. It is during this period he meets his future wife Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones), and the two embark on a whirlwind romance amidst the beautiful backdrop of Cambridge. We immediately fall in love with the couple, and also with the witty genius of Redmayne’s Hawking, but inevitably, we begin to see signs of the illness, which will eventually overcome him and change his and her life forever.

This is a story of man and woman who overcome the odds and defy every expectation. The film has a wonderful supporting cast including Harry Potter alumni David Thewlis, who takes on another professor/mentor role and oversees Hawking with his thesis and is a constant supportive presence in his life. He is among the first to witness the sheer genius of Hawking, and furthermore helps him to achieve success when he is stricken with motor neuron disease.

Redmayne’s physical transformation is outstanding. He truly embodies Hawking in a pure emotive and physical performance. He has the audience in the palm of his hand, and yet at no point does he make us feel sorry for the character, and instead we are left in awe at what a wonderful man we are seeing, and how he has not let anything stop him. This is acting at its very finest, and I believe that Redmayne will be nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award.

The Theory of Everything will make you teary eyed, and it will make you laugh out loud. There is a wonderful balance, supported by exceptional performances from all involved. This is a beautiful film and I highly recommend you go see it.

The Theory of Everything is available on Amazon.

Casey O