The Theory of E...xtraordinary acting worth seeing

Rating: 7/10 (4 February 2015)

This movie is not about physics or mathematics but a love story of a brilliant physicist and his first wife. Adapted from a book written by Dr. Stephen Hawking's wife, it is a heart-wrenching account of their life together.
Eddie Redmayne's portrayal of the advancing disease is simply dazzling. The young actor takes us through the transformation from a quirky student before he had any signs of the illness to a world renowned scientist living in the physical confines of his deteriorating disease. Even though the movie skims over some of the events and motivations of the central characters, it has told the story in a touching way. Stephen Hawking's accomplishments are not as much the focus of the story as is his humour, his stubbornness and his continued exploration of the larger questions, mixing science with philosophy. He is portrayed in a sympathetic light, perhaps at odds with the accounts of others who know him.
Even if the film skews from reality, it is worth seeing. The acting deserves an Oscar for a male actor in a leading role.
I give it 7 out of 10.