Film discussion: The Theory of Everything

The one Oscar moment from Sunday night that has some genuine relevance to what we might do on Tuesday is the surprise award for Best Actor that went to Eddie Redmayne in an unexpected upset. Everyone thought Keaton. The Academy said Redmayne. So it goes.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) night, we will have a chance to see what that upset was all about. That’s when we will be discussing The Theory of Everything, the biopic in which Redmayne plays Stephen Hawking, everyone’s favorite theoretical physicist and cosmologist.

The movie isn’t about the physics, of course. It’s about the romance between Hawking and his girlfriend/wife (who is played by Felicity Jones), and what happens when he is diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a disease that threatens to cut his life very short.

We know that Hawking’s life was not cut short, although the incredibly productive and successful life he has lived is not easy for most of us to comprehend, given the toll ALS has taken on it.

I think we’re in for a treat with Theory of Everything. We will have a chance to see Redmayne’s winning performance, plus Jones’ performance, which was also nominated for a Leading Actress Oscar. And all of this will be part of a movie that was also nominated for Best Picture.

All in all, given the undeniable skill the Brits demonstrate at turning out compelling biographical pictures (The Imitation Game was also a Best Picture nominee, and Mr. Turner should have been!), we will be in excellent storytelling hands.

The discussion schedule for March is also set, if you’d like to mark your calendar or notify your favorite digital device. We will be discussing Mr. Turner on Tuesday, March 3, Still Alice on Tuesday March 17 at the Historic Theater, and The Duke of Burgundy on Tuesday, March 24 in The Loft.

I hope to see you there.

Paul Goodwin
TMHMG