Soulful, moving, and impeccably crafted; lifted to the heights by exhilarating performances from both Redmayne and Jones

Rating: 8/10 (9 December 2014)

The Theory of Everything is a 2014 British biopic romantic drama film directed by James Marsh, written by Anthony McCarten and was inspired by the memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen by Jane Wilde Hawking. It stars Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones with Charlie Cox, Emily Watson, Simon McBurney, and David Thewlis featured in supporting roles.
The Theory of Everything might seem a formulaic biopic for most, the type of film that is released by the end of every year to garner significant buzz coming this awards season. And now they featured a phenomenal scientist, Stephen Hawking,(Oscar buzz!), and his supportive wife, Jane Hawking, (More Oscar buzz!). But this isn't a sole biopic that shoves down our throats the fascinating-but-esoteric theories of this well-known scientist, but it's a restrained love story about Jane and Stephen overcoming their adversities as a couple, as Stephen heartbreakingly shatters with his disease. It almost serves as a character study, looking how well-directed, written, and acted the characters are, principally the two leads.
Bolstered by an adroit, subdued direction from Marsh--from the ravishing, finely-tuned score and cinematography to sensitive care with each characters--and adept, profound writing from McCarten, who dived into the characters and layered them with unfeigned emotions. The supporting cast also did a great job, specifically Charlie Cox in a sympathetic role.
But the real winning turns are Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones, who gave contrasting flairs but still found common emotional footing. Redmayne is a revelation in his role, as he strips down into his immaculate form. A performance that could leave a mark in our hearts and in the history of cinema, a monumental transformation, he captured Stephen Hawking not only physically but his whole soul--he is the film's emotional core. Equally stellar is Jones, who in a less showy role, proves her full acting capabilities that once has been shown in "Like Crazy". If his co-star is the core, then she is the emotional spine. Without her, Stephen will fall, the whole film will shatter into pieces, I honestly believe that she is even more essential than his co-star. A subtle, transcendent work that shows a different side of a "supportive wife", facing the truth of being a human--we all have our limits--and she did that with deep ardency and valor even if the love wasn't genuine anymore.
All these fundamental elements mashed together and formed something that is incandescent. The Theory of Everything doesn't seek for an answer on how the universe came to place, nor it pound by pound follows disease-driven dramas. But it's a story about love that was once genuine vanished in the air like tiny particles--it's utterly heart-piercing and vehement. As the final scene rolls, you will be eviscerated with tears.