"There's so much I don't know about astrophysics. I wish I'd read that book by that wheelchair guy."
So said Homer Simpson back in 1995. When "The Simpsons" were the most cutting-edge show on television, this was a very sophisticated and obscure reference for primetime network TV. Who exactly is Homer referring to and what do we know about him? That wheelchair guy is the subject of a fascinating, and unexpectedly romantic biography now in theaters.
The Theory of Everything stars Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking, the brilliant physics professor and best-selling author of A Brief History of Time. The movie begins in 1963 when Stephen meets Jane Wilde and the two form a deep bond that demonstrates the true power of love. Played by Felicity Jones, Jane is the center of Stephen's universe, and also the author of the movie's source material: her memoir "Traveling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen."
The first thirty minutes are filled with nostalgic, romantic images of the young couple meeting, courting, dancing, and following their hearts. Tragedy quickly strikes as Stephen is diagnosed with ALS and is given only two years to live. Jane doesn't run away; quite the opposite. Her devotion grows stronger. They marry, have children, and fight every obstacle together.
As Stephen gains professional notoriety, his body deteriorates, and he is not only confined to a wheelchair but can no longer speak. The pressures of such an arrangement begin to wear on Jane, and her devotion is tested when she meets the handsome choir director of her local church. The movie explores the various stages of love, from passion to family to marriage, and is at it's strongest when it probes deep into the nature of personal relationships.
At times, however, the drama seems contrived as Jane runs out of things to do. As much as I like Felicity Jones, I could definitely see her acting too hard during the middle stretches of the film where life with Stephen is difficult, and she has nothing to do but frown and look upset.
The movie has several inspired moments where Stephen gets an idea from looking at a fire, or simply staring at a coffee cup and imagining the reversal of time. These cinematic flourishes are too few and far between, and the end result is a conventional biography.
Eddie Redmayne is excellent as Stephen, and he plays the challenging character with guts and sympathy. It's one of the better performances of the year, and certainly the best of this young Brit's brief career. He joins such great performers as Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot, Javier Bardem in The Sea Inside, and Mathieu Amalric in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. All played immobile characters who can move only part of their body and must rely on their face to tell the story. All are exceptional accomplishments and Eddie Redmayne is too.
