A brilliant mind and a broken body: More life and love, than religion and science.

Rating: Null/10 (12 January 2015)

A 'Universal' film. Btw, is the 'Universal' logo getting even more impressive in recent years?
'The Theory of Everything', 12A, 123mins, is a film about the life of the renowned scientist Dr Stephen Hawking, played by Eddie Redmayne, and his wife Jane Hawking, played by Felicity Jones. Both stars give superb performances. Mr Redmayne has rightly just won an award for his role.
The film, based on the book by Jane Hawking, focuses on the relationship of the couple. They meet at university but their relationship is quickly dominated by Dr Hawking's illness and physical decline.
The early university scenes authentically capture the period. The later scenes of illness brutally capture that reality too. The resilience of the human spirit over adversity is a major theme.
This film is a good companion piece to the other recent 'genius' film, 'The Imitation Game', starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr Alan Turing, the breaker of the Enigma code, and the father of computers. Mr Redmayne beat Mr Cumberbatch to an award. Both acted well, however the character of Dr Hawking is a much more human and warm character, than that of the colder, less human, and less sympathetic Dr Turing.
'The Theory of Everything' also beats 'The Imitation Game' in one important respect, namely that 'Theory' is almost completely chronological, whereas 'Imitation' moves back and forth in a very disjointed way. 'Imitation' would have been so much better set out chronologically. 'Theory' Director James Marsh, however, is not slavishly devoted to chronology. Time is a central part of the film, and the science in the film, and Director Marsh cleverly tweaks his chronology for this reason.
The science in 'Theory', like in 'Imitation', is dealt with in a way that is simply explained, and easily followed. Fans of 'The Big Bang Theory' know that the science never gets in the way of the story, and this is true also of 'The Theory' film. 'Big Bang' fans also know that intellectual struggle can easily be portrayed by holding a piece of chalk in front of a black-board. So too in this film. Incidentally, Dr Stephen Hawking, in real-life, has made several guest-appearances on 'Big Bang', playing himself.
Simon McBurney, in a small part, gives good support.
While this film is about a scientist, science does not dominate the film. As the film is about a man who suffered problems with his mobility and his physical condition, from an early age, it is necessarily a slow film.
In this film we learn a little bit about our universe and Dr Hawking's contribution to our understanding of it. We learn also about the man, and his wife. We learn too about life and love.
In essence this is a story about love. 10/10.