Almost since
the beginning of conscious thought, humans have looked up to the sky and asked
themselves one question, what is the meaning of it all? Over time we as a
species have come up with thousands of solutions and millions of answers, but
none that have ever been concrete enough to convince even a majority that any
one answer is true. Many great scientists in time have contributed their most
valiant efforts in an attempt to find the answer, and their results, while not
providing an overall answer brought us farther than we ever believed possible.
Men like Einstein, Newton, and the latest great mind of our generation, Stephen
Hawking. Stephen Hawking may have brought us even closer than he can even know,
for Hawking has provided us with the best hope for a solution that we’ve ever
had; he’s given us an almost sure bet, now we just have to figure out what it
is. For now, all we really know is the one thing Hawking and so many others,
scientists and non-scientists alike, are completely obsessed with, time. What
exactly that means is unclear, but one thing is clear; if you can find the one
equation that can allow us to completely understand time and how it works, we
can figure out the one equation that explains our entire universe, or so goes
the theory of everything.
Surprisingly,
the film The Theory of Everything doesn’t go into great detail on Hawking’s
scientific exploits although it does devote a satisfying portion of the film to
it it’s certainly not about it. On the contrary, The Theory of Everything is a
love story, and it’s as equally heart-warming as it is heart-breaking. When
we’re introduced to Hawking, he’s a gangly, awkward, nerdy fellow, with a
sheepish grin and a shy slump. I can’t explain why exactly but he’s immediately
likable and even though he’s a bit strange I can fully understand the future
Mrs. Hawking’s attraction. It’s clear that she’s immediately taken by him and
you can only wonder what their life would have been like had tragedy not struck
them both.
I would hope
by now everyone knows of the infamous Lou Gehrig’s disease that has afflicted
Stephen Hawking, so I won’t say spoilers here; the film doesn’t waste any time
getting there and hints of his debilitating health are sprinkled in early and
often. Here I have to take a moment and really commend Eddie Redmayne and the
amazing job he does of bringing Stephen Hawking to life. It’s fascinating to
watch as he goes through each progressive stage of the disease and its clear
Redmayne really dedicated himself to learning exactly how the disease affects
the human body. What he’s done here with his physical performance alone is
incredible and he definitely deserves at least a nomination for best actor.
The real
story (and mystery) is the relationship between Stephen and Jane Hawking, and
this is what truly makes the story beautiful and tragic. Hawking learned of his
disease at an early age, right after he and Jane began dating, and was told he
had only two years to live (doctors, am I right?). Despite being told she was
picking a losing battle, Jane swears to stay with Hawking and love him until
the disease takes him from her. There’s only one problem, he doesn’t die in two
years, or in ten, or in twenty. Stephen Hawking continues to live on and even
though he can barely manage a few words a minute, he continues to contribute
his brilliant theories to the world of science, as his brain is now his one and
only thing he can still hold dear. Unfortunately, his brain is about the only
thing that he can still properly use, and this makes life incredibly difficult
for his loving wife.
Certainly,
Jane Hawking is commendable for the challenge she willingly took upon herself
and she tries (and to a point succeeds) her very best at creating a normal
family with him, and she stays with him to the very end, fiercely if almost
reluctantly loyal. However, the wear and tear of the disease affects not only
her husband, and it is clear that she seems sad and depressed throughout most
of the film. Still her faithfulness to her husband is admirable, even when she is
faced with the grave temptation of her husband’s volunteer care-taker, the
director of the church choir. Their chemistry together is obvious and it seems
even Stephen Hawking can’t ignore it, but we can tell he understands, although
it saddens him.
This is what
makes the film so endearing though, studying Jane and Stephen’s relationship.
They shouldn’t work for so many reasons and a lot of times they don’t, but when
they do, it all makes sense in the most beautiful way. They have so many
differences, Jane is a devoted Christian, Stephen doesn’t believe in God,
however, we can tell that Jane respects his genius and in the same way, Stephen
respects and is also amused by her faith. He can almost never admit it, but in
a way I think he is almost jealous of how sure she is that her faith and her
answer for life is right, something that a true scientist can never allow
himself to have.
The ending
of the film is one of the better resolutions I’ve seen; I won’t spoil it but it
goes hand in hand with Hawking’s original theory on how time and the universe
operates. This isn’t an incredibly detailed documentary film on Hawking’s life;
rather it is a poetic overall synopsis of his life and his legacy, and it
certainly does him justice. It’s good to see one of the more brilliant minds of
our time get a biopic he deserves, even if Steve Jobs can’t seem to get one.
-Ryan Maples
Rating: 8.75
No comments:
Post a Comment