a theory of how great acting can elevate a film

Rating: Null/10 (26 August 2019)

Eddie Redmayne effectively channels Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot in this biopic of one of the most brilliant men of his generation. In the 1960s, Stephen Hawking is an ambitious astrophysicist at the University of Cambridge contemplating his thesis, but that takes a backseat upon discovering he has Lou Gehrig's disease, while also meeting and becoming smitten with Jane Wilde, a literature student with ambitions of her own. Taking into account that this is based on Jane's memoirs, it makes sense that more emphasis is placed on Hawking's domestic life rather than his accomplishments in the field of science; film's structure deprives it of some expected conflicts, and thus the emotional impact that comes hand in hand with said conflicts, yet it's still riveting thanks to a remarkable, transformative performance from Redmayne (who earned a well-deserved Oscar) capturing the essence of Hawking with tremendous authenticity, and it's also a great showing for Jones as a strong woman who "does her best" even in the most difficult of times. The performances alone make it worth the viewing experience, and help overcome any shortcomings in the screenplay. ***