Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

The Man Who Knew Infinity Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 9, 2016

The pursuit of mathematics -- busily scribbling out formulas and sorting out large masses of figures -- doesn't necessarily translate well to the screen, at least not in the same way other, more visually driven and easily understandable pursuits can light up a movie. Mathematical heroes are likewise less enticing, at least from the outside looking in, than other heroes in movies where heroic actions are more immediately praiseworthy and, perhaps more important, understandable by the general audience, even considering other graceful and artistic pursuits such as music composition or painting. That's why the "Mathematical Genius" mini-genre tends to focus almost exclusively on the people behind the formulas rather than the number crunching itself. Films like A Beautiful Mind and Good Will Hunting are now joined by the less dynamic but equally touching The Man Who Knew Infinity, a title that doesn't roll off the tongue as well as its peers but that aptly describes the subject's seemingly limitless mathematics knowledge that impresses his peers, though not before prejudice interferes with genius. The film, from Director Matthew Brown, capably paints its picture, lacking real novelty but offering a genuine insight into one of math's most gifted minds and how the mathematics world responded to it.

The genius pupil.

Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dev Patel) is a mathematical genius. But that doesn't get him anywhere. He's self-taught and doesn't understand all of the how's or why's of mathematics. He just knows. Without a degree, he cannot land a job. Without a job, he cannot support his wife (Devika Bhise). When he sends evidence of his mathematical genius to Cambridge University, work which appears to disprove complex work done by Mathematician G. H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons), he's invited to the school but is not particularly welcome. His heritage and presence angers those around him. His inability to precisely prove his findings frustrates Hardy. But the two forge a bond, which becomes a friendship. As Ramanujan's work begins to earn him the respect of others, a new adversity will challenge him far more deeply than any he's faced before.

Understanding the intricacies of the mathematics which propels Ramanujan to Cambridge is not in the least bit critical to either enjoying the movie or discovering its greater purpose. The math sounds good, rolling off character tongues in graceful and learnedly literate ways. It looks enticing in shots revealing Ramanujan's notes and formulas, but all of it is merely a driving force to a greater story, support details that set the stage but don't define the narrative. Indeed, The Man Who Knew Infinity is less a story about purely mathematical minds -- certainly those concepts are what draw the men together, a shared passion for, and intimate understanding of, numbers -- and more a tale of discovery, friendship, and common pursuits overcoming common prejudice. In that way, the movie is hardly novel. Many before it have explored similar themes and ideas. The Man Who Knew Infinity does it capably and does it justice, though, with an honest, sincere, and heartfelt exploration of the relationship between Hardy and Ramanujan and the latter's contributions to his field but also his contributions to the hearts of his colleagues.

The movie is well assembled, nicely saturated in its time period which is important to its historical accuracy but of secondary importance to the central, human-value details that drive it and create through it a timeless tale of friendship. Brown's direction is steady and unobtrusive, allowing his cast to emote and define the movie more so than any cinematic techniques which do enhance, but in no way supplant, the performances. The film is made by those performances, including terrific efforts from both Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons as mathematical geniuses and, as the film progresses, colleagues and friends. The performances, like the movie's structure and themes, make use of the language of mathematics and the actors effortlessly and believably integrate their knowledge thereof into the film, but it's beyond the numbers where their work shines. Both leads demonstrate a deeper command of the relationship the characters build, and of the place and time, which is critical to the way it begins and evolves. They also reveal the more intimate understandings that extend beyond the externalities of the world around them, understandings that are nurtured in the heart. The film enjoys several fine key support efforts, notably from Toby Jones as Hardy's closest colleague at Cambridge.

The Man Who Knew Infinity Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Man Who Knew Infinity's 1080p transfer satisfies, struggling in only a couple of areas. Source noise is apparent but not particularly heavy. Black levels show a tendency to push a little too purplish than is acceptable. Otherwise, the image is fine. Detailing is mostly very good. The digital source occasionally leaves the image looking a hair smooth and flat, but oftentimes, and particularly in close-ups, textures are revealed with ease. Faces and clothes are predictably strong, particularly the heavier era attire, such as suit jackets. Close-ups of the warm, well-used wooden furniture throughout Cambridge is a true strength; crevices, scratches, and other inconsistencies and signs of age and wear are easy to spot, and tactile. Colors are excellent. The film's open reveals the most diverse scheme in the film, where bright attire stands out with superb saturation and vibrance. At Cambridge, brighter colors -- beyond lush green grass in the courtyard -- give way to warmer accents and neutrals inside the school's work and learning spaces. Flesh tones appear accurate. Overall, this is a positive, enjoyable image from Paramount.

The Man Who Knew Infinity Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Man Who Knew Infinity features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack that only enjoys a couple of brief opportunities to stretch, but it's effective in presenting the movie's mostly modest sonic needs with ease. Gentle ambience -- nighttime insects in one scene, pleasant seaside atmospherics in another -- are nicely defined and immersive, presenting with simple but effective spacing all around. Driving rain seems to stay largely up front, while the surrounds carry lingering thunder. Music is delivered capably, presenting with plenty of detail and agreeable spacing, predominantly across the front. The track features two moments of greater weight and aggression. One is an explosion that hits suitably hard, largely off to the side, with subsequent debris falling all around the stage. The other comes near film's end, when a large number of Cambridge faculty rap their knuckles on a wooden table, the sensation of which is healthily potent and realistic. Otherwise, the track is largely centered around dialogue, which plays with natural center placement and good prioritization.

The Man Who Knew Infinity Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of The Man Who Knew Infinity contains no supplemental content. No DVD or digital version are included.

The Man Who Knew Infinity Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Man Who Knew Infinity doesn't bring anything new to its genre or, really, the larger world of stories centered on exceptional people who face hardships for qualities beyond their control and overcome artificial adversities, but it's very well done, smart, and sincere. The story beyond the math is easy to grasp, and a smart script makes it easy to appreciate the film as a human bonding and interest story. Performances are excellent and production values impress. Paramount's Blu-ray is unfortunately featureless, but video and audio are up to format standards. Recommended.