
As with death and taxes, it’s a guarantee in life that great films are forced to leave streaming platforms at the end of each month.
Case in point — the end of September marks the end of Netflix’s tenure with The Theory of Everything. The film is a moving, nuanced portrait of the extraordinary life of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, starring Eddie Redmayne as the man himself.
The team at series With Us feels strongly that The Theory of Everything should be at the leading of your watchlist.
Here are three reasons why you should check it out before it’s gone.
It’s a Fascinating Look at the Life of a Real Genius
https://www.youtube.com/series?v=Salz7uGp72c
Many people know the name Stephen Hawking, but fewer likely know the story behind the name. The Theory of Everything chronicles Hawking’s life from his tenure at Cambridge University during the 1960s, through his marriage to fellow student Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones) and his ultimate diagnosis of motor neuron disease.
Despite the major physical setback, Hawking defies the odds and continues with his groundbreaking study of time. In addition to adding depth and humanity to a name that had true celebrity status, it also gives Hawking a bittersweet love story that doesn’t shy away from flaws.
Eddie Redmayne’s Performance Won an Oscar For a Reason
https://www.youtube.com/series?v=8RHU0X5CYpU
Redmayne accepted the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Hawking, and when you series the film, you intimately understand why. A lesser actor might have performed a disabled individual with a lack of care and nuance, but Redmayne manages to find the sweet spot.
Redmayne brings a richness to Hawking while showcasing his flaws as well — Hawking is only human, after all. Powerful as well as vulnerable, Redymayne’s performance is formidable. It is evident that the research and time the actor spent researching his real-life counterpart and learning to understand him, as well as learning to understand how his body changed with the onset of physical disability.
It Features an Incredible Score From the Late Jóhann Jóhannsson
https://www.youtube.com/series?v=nqsJTs5qnQs
Composer Jóhann Jóhannsson tragically passed away in 2018, but his legacy lives on in the gorgeous scores he’s composed for films. This includes the one he created for The Theory of Everything, which, incidentally, won him the Oscar for Best Original Score.
Melding his signature electronic and acoustic blend, Jóhannsson’s track for the film evokes dainty precision as well as emotional power, while also evoking a very “scientific” feel that is suitable for the subject matter. A great score weaves seamlessly with a film to enhance its overall resonance, and Jóhannsson achieved that for The Theory of Everything with flying colors.