Wanted more science

Rating: 6/10 (8 December 2014)

But, as a life tragedy film, this was better than most. A Ron Howard-type, 1940s-style emotion-seeker using Dr. Hawking's sad illness for a center point, this story was very little about what made the man great in his field, and almost all about what made him such a force of mind and will while enduring a physical illness that felled most others with it early on. Living on for decades beyond expectations showed the results of that great will along with the long-suffering, loving care his wife showered upon him for all those years of indignity and degenerative insult. To show his brutal struggle's accomplishments as well as the film showed them was grand and very encouraging to behold, but I truly wish the film had shown more of what made him so heroic in his field as well as in his illness. Thus, the film failed in that for me.
Eddie Redmayne as Hawking was outstanding, as his amazing physical similarities were only overshadowed by his uncanny ability to portray Hawking's illness's effect on his body and face as he declined. Felicity Jones as his loving and caring and so enduring wife, was also outstanding, as the fierce will and love she showed in her role was surely as strong as Mrs. Hawking showed in real life.
Don't expect much of Hawking's science in this film, as it has just enough in it to engage us about Hawking's life mission, which is the title of the film. He is still working on it, and I am sure that is what is keeping him alive for the rest of us to someday benefit.