Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

The Theory of Everything Blu-ray Movie Review

A brief history of an extraordinary man.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 16, 2015

Where there is life, there is hope.

The image of the wheelchair-bound Stephen Hawking and the sound of his synthetic, computer-generated voice have long stood as symbols not of scientific progress but of man's unique determination to overcome the odds -- no matter how debilitating they may be -- and fulfill a life's wish and a universe's destiny. The Theory of Everything, directed by James Marsh (Shadow Dancer), shares the details of the life story of the renowned author and acclaimed scientific mind in a movie that's less about the man's theories and genius and more a champion for the human spirit, a spirit that exists beyond the body and even the mind and defines a man in ways that physical dexterity or mental ability cannot. Indeed, that spirit manifests itself in one's desire to move forward, to refuse to succumb to life's challenges and instead to rise above them, to make use of whatever gifts one has or, in Hawking's case, which remain, to refuse to allow life's burdens to interrupt, inhibit, or incapacitate life's benefits. The film is simple but remarkably performed and fully heartfelt, a portrait of a hero whose powers aren't physical or even, despite his genius, mental, but instead an unending desire to push forward and fulfill potential no matter the circumstances.

The story is yet to be written.

Cambridge student Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) is one of the most brilliant men to ever walk the school's illustrious halls. He has everything ahead of him except of an idea where to go in his fields of study. He becomes interested in the concept of time -- its beginning and its end -- when he and his professor (David Thewlis) attend a lecture on the very subject. As Hawking prepares his thesis, he collapses in the school's courtyard. He's diagnosed with a neurological disorder that will gradually rob him of his ability to move and speak and eventually rob him of his very life. The diagnosis does not scare off his love interest, Jane (Felicity Jones), who marries Hawking and does all she can to aid him in his work, even as she must make sacrifices in her own pursuits. With her help, Hawking earns his degree. The film tells the story of both his rise to stardom and the challenges of his everyday existence behind the scenes that never stopped Hawking from becoming a visionary in his field and a science rock star, for all intents and purposes, to the general public.

The Theory of Everything proves that life need not end when tragedy strikes, that from great difficulty can rise great success if one seizes the moment, rationalizes, prioritizes, and elevates will, focus, and desire above despair, regret, and surrender. As the film depicts Hawking in three stages -- a fully functional young genius, a man struggling with the sudden change in his life, and finally a man fully made even under less than ideal conditions -- it proves mildly heartbreaking yet impressively uplifting. It is in those moments in which Hawking gradually accepts and comes to realize, even without the ability to care for himself, to move on his own two feet, and even to articulate his words, that he is still who he was -- his soul, for all intents and purposes, remains -- that the story finds its strongest message of hope. Hawking's story rises above his intellect, his theories, even his sense of humor and shows that life is a sum of its parts rather than the full function of every one, that that which makes a man cannot be denied even when he is denied even some of the most basic faculties of life.

The movie's greatest success, beyond, of course, the central theme of life and purpose even under less-than-ideal conditions, is the lead performance from Eddie Redmayne. The actor certainly nails the look, which almost completely captures that aforementioned image of the wheelchair-bound Hawking that's so deeply ingrained in popular culture. And while looking the part is important -- after all, Redmayne is challenged to act with limited-to-no mobility and slurred-to-no speech as the movie progresses, asked to find the character's later-film essence in the eyes and that unmistakable smile -- it's his early film performance that's arguably the most important piece of the movie's greater puzzle. Redmayne's ability to build the man through a thirst for knowledge, eagerness to push forward with his ideas, and even a contagious playful side allow that same spirit to shine through even after Hawking has succumb to nearly every physical aspect of his disease. That also allows the film to shift focus from the darker sides of the story -- as critical as those story elements may be -- and prepare the audience to accept and even cherish the greater good, not to dismiss the challenges but see that they're mere obstacles along the way rather than burdens which cannot be overcome.

The Theory of Everything Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Theory of Everything arrives on Blu-ray with a clean and detailed 1080p transfer that comes sourced from the original digital photography. The image is precise and nuanced, with handsome, accurate detailing evident on faces, clothes, and general backgrounds, whether a sterile hospital operating room or warm and inviting Cambridge accents. The film features a unique color palette, one that often favors a light and almost glowing appearance that warms the screen, only sometimes contrasted by icy blue-dominant backgrounds and other assorted cooler flavors. Still, colors are attractive and balanced in the film's parameters. Black levels satisfy with their depth and accuracy, while flesh tones take the shape of the dominant lighting style. The image appears free of any bits of excess banding or blocking artifacts with only a hint of noise. On the whole, this is a rich, accurate presentation from Universal.

The Theory of Everything Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Theory of Everything's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is big and satisfying. Music is aggressive yet maintains a commendable level of clarity and evenness around the stage, with a wide front end and a healthy surround support engagement. Only mild muddiness is evident in a few highs, and loud background party music disrupts dialogue intelligibility in one early film scene. The track delivers a good variety of background support pieces throughout, with most every scene where it's expected brought to life with well defined yet oftentimes subtle atmospherics. The track's big moment comes in a barrage of fireworks that pop with tremendous weight and exacting full-stage placement. Otherwise, the movie is heavy on dialogue. The spoken word plays clearly and truly from the center, whether standard speech, Hawking's slurred dialect midway through the film, or the famed robotic voice heard later in the film.

The Theory of Everything Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Theory of Everything contains an audio commentary, a featurette, and a handful of deleted scenes. A DVD copy and a voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy are also included.

• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Church (0:39), Riverbank (0:30), Jane Types for Stephen (2:15), God's Work (0:38), Stephen Drops Robert (1:25), Helping Stephen Into the Car (0:49), Jonathan Lends a Hand (0:47), and Stephen Meets the Queen (3:42). With optional commentary by Director James Marsh
• Becoming the Hawkings (1080p, 7:03): A simple behind-the-scenes piece that looks at Eddie Redmayne's recreation of Stephen Hawking and Felicity Jones' performance of Jane Hawking.
• Audio Commentary: Director James Marsh delivers a straightforward, slightly dry, and technically informative track that covers performances, the story details, historical accuracy, technical bits regarding the shoot, and more.
• Previews (1080p): Dallas Buyers Club, Hyde Park on Hudson, Moonrise Kingdom, Promised Land, Beginners, and Being Flynn.

The Theory of Everything Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Theory of Everything is a well-made movie wherein the sum is greater than the parts. The movie is at its best as the audience, and Hawking, come to realize that ends can be beginnings, that life's challenges need only interrupt and perhaps inconvenience but not terminate one's essence. Certainly Hawking's story is unique considering the unmistakable genius at play within his mind, and even as he offers some controversial theories on beginnings and ends that some may find fault with, he's nevertheless a hero of the human spirit as evidenced by his will to push forward even through the most challenging difficulties. Eddie Redmayne's performance is stellar in all areas, rounding a good, meaningful movie into one of the year's better entries. Universal's Blu-ray release of The Theory of Everything features high end video and audio. A fair supplemental package is included. Highly recommended.