Review of The Theory of Everything (2014) by Clarisesamuels — 30 Mar 2015

The Theory of Everything refers to the elusive resolution to the paradox that faces all physicists. This is the fact that there are two major theories in physics—the theory of general relativity, which is used to make very accurate predictions about the behavior of massive objects in space, such as planets, stars and galaxies, and the theory of quantum mechanics, which predicts, also with great accuracy, the behavior of invisible particles such as protons, neurons, and quarks. The problem is that the two theories contradict each other, but since they are employed in completely different realms, there is usually no conflict; however, there are a few situations where the two theories are both applicable and stand in opposition to each other. Therefore, another more integrating and all-encompassing mathematical equation is needed to unify the two theories and reconcile all the forces of the universe, and this is called the Theory of Everything, sought in vain by Albert Einstein himself for the last thirty years of his life.

As critic Mike Scott pointed out about the film, Hawking’s preoccupation with the Theory of Everything appears as a background process, superficially discussed in conversations and occasionally depicted on blackboards filled with mathematical formulas. A layman’s version of the theoretical quest is given by Hawking’s wife, Jane (Felicity Jones) when she tells a dinner guest that there are two major theories of physics to be reconciled, one dealing with the large objects (“potatoes”) and one dealing with the small objects (“peas”).

Since the film is based on Jane Hawking’s autobiography (Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen), the emphasis is on the romance between Jane and Stephen Hawking (played by Eddie Redmayne), their subsequent marriage and raising of children, their heartbreaking but in many ways triumphant struggle with his ALS, and their ultimate break-up. It is actually a fascinating aspect of his life, perhaps almost as fascinating as the Theory of Everything. Through sheer determination, a young man who was given two years to live not only survived for fifty years (and counting), but he resolutely sought to have all the experiences he would have had as an able-bodied adult—career, romance, marriage, children, and even divorce and remarriage, and then another divorce. As a friend who picks up the young Hawking to carry him up a flight of stairs asks rather pointedly, “Stephen, is everything affected?” And Hawking replies, “No, it’s a different system—it’s automatic.” Eddie Redmayne comes as close to becoming his subject as is possible for any actor to get.

Despite the intrigue and complications in his personal life, Hawking was always obsessively at work on brilliant ideas that included the discovery of Hawking radiation, his theories about the origin and boundaries of the universe, and his best-selling popular science books, among other projects and theories, making him one of the most famous physicists in the world. The details of this ongoing intellectual process would have made for an interesting portrayal in the film, since his work is the most fascinating and most important part of the miracle of Stephen Hawking’s life.