Are you currently familiar with Stephen Hawking? Perhaps you’ve heard of the film, The Theory of Everything? Released limitedly at the beginning of September, this movie has received acclaim for its depiction of Hawking, his diagnosis of motor neuron disease, and his relationship with Jane Wilde Hawking.
Recently nominated for an Oscar, Eddie Redmayne portrays Stephen Hawking. Throughout the film, Hawking’s success in physics in showcased. After a surprise win at the Golden Globes for Best Actor in a Dramatic Role, it’s believed that Redmayne with also take home the Academy Award.
To master the role, Redmayne actually met with the real Stephen Hawking. He spent an entire six months researching the role, watching everything he could of Hawking, including various interviews. When meeting Hawking, Redmayne noted that even though the real Stephen is unable to move, there is still a great amount of effervescence to be seen in the man’s eyes. Interestingly enough, Stephen Hawking enjoyed the film so much that he actually permitted producers to use his own synthesized voice for the final cut of the movie.
The Theory of Everything premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was later released by Focus Features and given a limited release in 2014.
Though the chance of Eddie Redmayne winning the Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking is quite high, he does face some competition. The other four male actors in this race include: Michael Keaton, Bradley Cooper, Steve Carell, and Benedict Cumberbatch. Do you have a favorite?
Other Notable Films
If you’re interested, there have been plenty of other films made that depict an individual’s struggle with being handicap. Quite famously, Daniel Day-Lewis won the Academy Award for Best Oscar for his portrayal of Christy Brown in the 1989 film, My Left Foot. Do you have a specific film that sticks out to you Let us know!
Cutter has been featured in various online magazines and print anthologies, showcasing his short stories and poems. In addition to his work as a writer, Cutter works as an actor in the San Diego area, his experience varying from local commercials to independent features. He currently works at CreativeMob as a web copywriter.
