The Theory of Everything (2014 film)

The Theory of Everything (2014)

The Theory of Everything is a 2014 biographical film directed by James Marsh. The film is adapted from the memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen by Jane Hawking, which details her life with her former husband, the theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking.

Plot

The film begins with Stephen Hawking (played by Eddie Redmayne) as a PhD student at the University of Cambridge. He meets Jane Wilde (played by Felicity Jones), a fellow student, at a party. They fall in love, but Stephen is diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neurone disease, and given only two years to live. Despite this, Jane marries him and they have three children.

As Stephen's physical abilities decline, his intellectual achievements continue to grow. He publishes his groundbreaking work on black holes and the Big Bang theory. The film also explores the strains on their marriage due to Stephen's illness and his growing fame. Eventually, Stephen and Jane separate, and Stephen continues his work with his new partner, Elaine Mason.

Cast

• Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking
• Felicity Jones as Jane Hawking
• Charlie Cox as Jonathan Hellyer Jones
• Emily Watson as Beryl Wilde
• Simon McBurney as Frank Hawking
• David Thewlis as Dennis Sciama

Production

The film was produced by Working Title Films and distributed by Focus Features. The screenplay was written by Anthony McCarten, who adapted it from Jane Hawking's memoir. The film's score was composed by Jóhann Jóhannsson.

Reception

The Theory of Everything received critical acclaim, particularly for the performances of Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones. Redmayne won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking. The film was also nominated for several other Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Felicity Jones, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Awards and Nominations

• Academy Award for Best Actor - Eddie Redmayne (won)
• Academy Award for Best Picture (nominated)
• Academy Award for Best Actress - Felicity Jones (nominated)
• Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay - Anthony McCarten (nominated)
• Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama - Eddie Redmayne (won)
• Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score - Jóhann Jóhannsson (won)

See also

• Stephen Hawking
• Jane Hawking
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Black hole
• Big Bang theory