Just peanuts for space

Rating: 6/10 (14 January 2015)

It would be lovely to have A Theory of Everything, a lovely tuning in equation that can explain and predict the movement of celestial and atomic bodies in a vacuum (if there is such) of space. Anyone even vaguely interested in science would discard such thought- science and a theory that explains everything- all the factors that seem to contradict each other and are impossible to replicate- in a field that over a span of month new theory can resurface and rewrite our current knowledge. That what makes most of scientists bonkers, it is impossible to ever be right, and this statement is underlining (because at some aspects right can be right no matter what). And now it became abstractly confusing and I am not sure what I am- review- yes- I was supposed to review, not, em, confuse with random ideological thesis.
I can securely state that over a good percentage of the globe is capable of recognizing name Stephen Hawking, or image of the crippled, old man with computer on a wheelchair. No wonder, this is now the name we use to describe genius. Even when many quoting Einstein or Hawking cannot place finger on the exact thing those figures have discovered. It has, after all, little to do with us- in other words- causing Apple to fall on the ground is not a form of demonstration. It requires abstract thinking, something that our mind does not need. Hawking a publisher of worldwide bestseller A Brief History of Time: From Big Bang to Black Holes, like title suggests is a quite brief historical account that explains notion of space/time, and it begins with explosion of arguably nothing that caused creation of everything and is possibly going to end in a bing crunch. Don't worry, you have millennium of time- you may think that going down to the groceries is a lot, but that's just peanuts to space.
Oh- Ah- I should be reviewing a movie. Yes, this high scorer in categories varying from acting to music, is a second critically acclaimed biopic of a revolutionary Cambridge graduate. Now, I preferred the previous one, here meaning The Imitation Game. Even when from a personal point of view I prefer Hawking over Turing, that arrogant sense of humor, I am to judge movie not person.
Recorded in an unorthodox way, with extreme close ups and vintage coloring board. Playing with light and not bothering to polish the inequalities- the camera work was unique- and kept me distracted from the narrative. Which is not a thing camera work should do. Yet I loved the time lapses and reverse edit at the end, and one shot that made me feel Hawkings frustration over the table. Score, much like in most of biopics was this idyllic combination of calm piano notes. The acting, although the supporting cast was passable and widely ranged, all the focus goes to young Eddie Redmeye- who throughout the movie feels like authentic Stephen Hawking- and shows a wide palette of talent, when tacking the scientist during different stages of the illness. I did have no problems with pacing, but at times the story seemed to drag. I did not really feel sympathetic to the characters, not surely why, I cannot place my finger on it (much like on a single electron). I disliked Jane, maybe she was supposed to be like this, but the movie did not keep me interested to see how her fate would unfold. I didn't feel like being part of the event, not sure if I am the observer, or if i am to step into shoes (or wheels) of the man. Cinematographically, a waste of potential- so much more could be done to show the anger and confusion and struggle, also, there was a chance of graphically explaining the abstract theories, which I was waiting for, quite blankly. There was no "wow" moment in which the plot, camera and music come into a wonderful crescendo and unison and your mind goes "this is it".
Concluding, it is a good, insightful watch. With great, ambitious lead and interesting presentation, which unfortunately also brings movie to a "uncomfortable" style of narrative, that instead adding to fluidity slows it down. A good watch, but not a must see- recommendation.
Summarising:
Direction 5/10
Script 7/10
Pacing 6/10
Originality 5/10 (there is another biopic, that funnily enough, is played by other this years award nominee)
Artistic attributes 7/10 (here meaning costumes, set, score)
Acting 7/10
Loyalty to the source 8/10
Personal 18/30
Makes-you-think-or-feel 7/10
Memorability 7/10 (it won't leave my mind anytime soon)
Watchability 7/10 (I would eagerly put it back on) Overall 66/100 66%