Well done, lacks depth

Rating: 7/10 (22 April 2015)

Based on a book written by Hawking's first wife Jane this is a straightforward telling of her relationship with Steven Hawking from their first meeting to their parting. There is no need to worry about getting bogged down with cosmological arcana, since there are few details given as to what Hawking's fame as a scientist rests on. Some mention of black holes being mathematical singularities, that they may emit radiation and ultimately disappear, that maybe the creation of our universe could possibly be traced back to a singularity. I suppose this level of detail is appropriate for a movie targeting a general audience--those wanting more can attempt to read Hawking's "A Brief History of Time."
In popular culture Hawking is more well known for his decades long struggle with ALS than for his contributions to cosmology. The first part of the movie detailing the initial relationship between Steven and Jane is affecting, accentuated by the knowledge of what is to come. As well done as it is this prelude doesn't break much new ground--the story of two attractive young people falling in love is not a neglected topic.
The main thrust of the movie concentrates on Hawking's disease and how that was handled by him and Jane as the disease progressed. I have to give Redmayne credit for his impressive performance, I hope he did not suffer any permanent physical damage from the contortions required by the part.
Hawking has himself said that the movie gets things right, in the main. I just wish that it could have delved a little deeper. For example, touching on Hawking's thoughts on politics, religion, culture, and issues faced by the disabled, would have made this more interesting. Hawking's atheism was pretty much whitewashed. I suppose citing his quote that heaven is a myth for those afraid of the dark would have been out of place in the guarded approach taken here. There were some odd scenes like the one that has Hawking on stage later in life getting out of his wheelchair to pick up a pen that a woman in the audience had dropped. Whose fantasy was that? To what end was it in there?
This is a polished production, maybe too polished. I had the feeling that, like dark matter, we didn't see a lot of details that we know must be there.