Religion for intelligent atheists......

Rating: 7/10 (1 January 2015)

Enrolled as a graduate student at Cambridge, Hawking establishes himself as one of the leading minds of his generation, and begins to win the heart of Jane.
After one of his earliest breakthroughs, Hawking is diagnosed with MNS, and he becomes less and less able to control his own body.
With the loyal Jane at his side, he continues his work.
As the years progress, Jane starts to feel more like a nurse than a wife, and Hawking begins to have feelings for a woman who is hired to care for him.....
Its award season again isn't it? Every year between the end of November and February, here in the UK, we are either bombarded with BAFTA baiting movies like this, or films that are just dumped for quick release, because they are a bit rubbish (I think Taken 3, will stink to high heaven myself).
But its always good to see a movie that has had a lot of heart put into it, and although Redmayne's performance is wonderful, it really is the only reason to watch this.
Hawkins story is amazing, we know that because the man is a genius and is everywhere, we want him everywhere, but here, it feels more like a Sunday evening drama that ITV would screen, it's not very cinematic.
The chemistry between the two stars is there, it feels so real, and Thewlis steals every scene he is in, but sometimes the film appears like its almost begging for awards, but it doesn't happen very often.
There are a few really touching scenes, particularly when he leaves the table because he is struggling to use cutlery, the expression on Redmayne's face of helplessness almost brought me to tears.
It does sound like I didn't enjoy the film, I did, a lot, but it feels like this will get lost among other films that are released this time of years.
Brilliant performances from the two leads though.