Eddie Redmayne always has a captivating screen presence, characterized by that sparkle in his eye and his expressive mouth. Those traits still reveal themselves in his remarkable portrayal of Stephen Hawking. The film starts when he was a promising Cambridge student, where he meets the woman who became his wife (Felicity Jones, who’s also wonderful). Even though he was diagnosed with ALS at age 21, they continued their relationship, as he went on to become the famous physicist. Throughout the dramatic challenges of their life, the screenplay manages to inject humor and hope. Redmayne transforms himself into an Oscar-worthy performance and the film tells Hawking’s story with warmth and honor.
(4.5 / 5)