THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING (2015)

Genre: Drama
Running Length: 2:03
Cast: Eddy Redmayne, Felicity Jones, David Thewlis
Director: James Marsh
Screenplay: Anthony McCarten, based on "Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen" by Jane Hawking

There are many great performances this year nominated in the best actor category but none as uncanny as Eddie Redmayne's turn as Stephen Hawking in THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING. When you see him on screen, you don't see Redmayne acting as Hawking but you actually see Stephen Hawking himself. His physical transformation is astonishing but more importantly, viewers will actually experience the slow degeneration (due to ALS) of the brilliant physicist's motor skills and emotional breakdown unfolding in front of our eyes. It's painful to watch at times. By the end of the film, Redmayne's acting is only limited to his face and eyebrows but yet we can still sense his tenacity to lead a normal life. He is deserving of Best Actor in this year's Oscars. Felicity Jones' turn as his first wife is equally convincing as in the beginning, she truly believes that love will tide them over but by the end, as a caregiver, she is forced to admit defeat. The narrative presented is pretty straightforward but I'm glad that the angle the filmmakers took; rather than concentrating on theoretical physics, it focuses more on the real-life challenges of a couple faces when one of the partner is stricken with physical illness; it forces the viewers to re-evaluate the "theory of love" - to be together in sickness and health.

Rating: 8/10