Stephen Hawking biopic 'The Theory of Everything' garners Oscar buzz for its stars
The film has gotten mainly positive reviews and many who criticized other aspects of the film still believe that stars Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones are assured a place on the Oscar nominees list. 'The Theory of Everything' will be released on Nov. 7.
The film has gotten mainly positive reviews and many who criticized other aspects of the film still believe that stars Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones are assured a place on the Oscar nominees list. 'The Theory of Everything' will be released on Nov. 7.
The Toronto Film Festival often provides a sneak peek at the films and thespians who will be frontrunners in the Oscar race, and with the Toronto debut of the Stephen Hawking biopic 鈥淭he Theory of Everything,鈥� attention is being paid to the performances of 鈥淟es Miserables鈥� actor Eddie Redmayne as Hawking and Felicity Jones of 鈥淭he Invisible Woman鈥� as his wife, Jane, in the film.
In addition to Redmayne and Jones, the movie stars 鈥淭he Book Thief鈥� actress Emily Watson, David Thewlis of 鈥淲ar Horse,鈥� and 鈥淕ame of Thrones鈥� actor Harry Lloyd.
鈥淭heory鈥� itself has received mainly positive reviews so far. Some critics like Catherine Shoard of the Guardian聽liked the film, with Shoard writing that the movie is 鈥渁 film of scrupulous ethics and fresh-scrubbed compassion 鈥� Redmayne towers: this is an astonishing, genuinely visceral performance which bears comparison with Daniel Day-Lewis in 'My Left Foot' 鈥� It manages that rare thing in any movie, least of all a well-upholstered biopic, and that is a realistic relationship, with grace notes, and a bedrock of respect and affection. Jones makes for a formidable opposite number; she's a consistently brilliant actor who needs a breakthrough 鈥� Though Redmayne will deservedly hoover up a great swagbag of awards, Jones shouldn't go home empty-handed.鈥�
Variety writer Justin Chang was also won over by the movie, writing that it鈥檚 鈥渁 sensitively directed inspirational biopic鈥� [it鈥檚] a stirring and bittersweet love story, inflected with tasteful good humor 鈥� [there are] superb performances from Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones.鈥�
And some who didn鈥檛 like certain aspects of the movie still praised Redmayne and Jones, with Leslie Felperin of the Hollywood Reporter writing that 鈥渋f the syrupy lows are blessedly few and far between, the highs are not much more frequent. As such, it鈥檚 something of a disappointment for fans of [director] James Marsh鈥� Facing the physical challenges of depicting Hawking鈥檚 disability, Redmayne pulls it off with enormous grace and endurance, and it鈥檚 not just the assist from prosthetic teeth and ears that helps him create an impeccable mimicry of the real man. Jones almost has the harder part in a way 鈥� and she holds her own well, although the aging makeup and costumes are less persuasive.鈥澛�
Steve Pond of TheWrap agreed.
鈥淓verything鈥� will be released in the US on Nov. 7.