Extremely Well-Acted

Rating: 8/10 (12 July 2015)

I really liked it better when there were only 5 nominees for the Oscar for Best Picture (even when Dark Knight didn't get nominated and fanboys went crazy) because it recognized a smaller collection of movies that were more deserving of the award, let alone the nomination. At first I felt like the Theory of Everything is one of those movies that is almost worthy of the nomination, but that it was only nominated since up to 10 movies can now be nominated for that Oscar. Now after looking at the list again and having seen all those films nominated for best picture, Theory of Everything triumphs over The Imitation Game, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and American Sniper - perhaps even Selma.
I still think the two strongest films of the year were Birdman and Whiplash, but the acting in The Theory of Everything is phenomenal, especially Eddie Redmayne's performance as the brilliant yet handicapped Stephen Hawking. I felt guilty nearly giggling at Hawking's speech impediment when it is first introduced in the film, but shortly after realized it is how the physicist actually had to speak and that Redmayne must have a true gift to be able to recreate such a severe handicap.
While I realize the purpose of this film was primarily the romance between Hawking and Jane, his wife who he eventually leaves, I would have liked to see more of Hawking's theory/work or at least see more into the theory with specific details. We have a film about one of the most intelligent people who ever lived, but the filmmakers wanted to dumb down Hawking's theory and his discoveries to "benefit" the audience.
I'm not sure how I would have liked to see the film end, but I thought it was strange to have Hawking acknowledge his wife and family so abruptly after leaving Jane towards the conclusion of the film. It is a sentimental moment, but it is brief and simple before a "rewinding" sequence which looks back on the film (the lives of the two lovers) as a whole. A strong relationship story, but I would have liked to see more about the theory instead of that becoming disregarded for the sake of the love story.