There are ordinary, ordinary or outstanding scientists, but there is another category - Stephen Hawking. A man of legend, possessing not only a brilliant mind, but also tremendous fortitude. His books are best sellers, his lectures are unique, his theories are as fantastic as they are real.
In 2015, the Englishman James Marsh’s film (director) “Stephen Hawking’s Universe” (actors and roles, hereinafter referred to as the text), filmed from the memoirs of Jane Hawking, the scientist’s ex-wife, was released on the big screens. A touching story tells about the youth of a couple when he is a promising student, and she is a future art critic. The original name of the picture sounds like "Theory of Everything."
Stephen Hawking
Discarding all exaggeration and praise, it is impossible to call Steven Hawking a genius. He was born in Oxford, born on January 8, 1942. At 20, he graduated from Oxford University, and after another three years received his doctorate in Cambridge. For more than half a century of scientific activity, he has become one of the most influential theoretical physicists in the world. The main area of his research is quantum gravity and cosmology.
A sharp mind and incredible fortitude are precisely these two qualities that allow the whole world to admire him. At the age of twenty-one, Hawking was given an almost fatal diagnosis with a complex name: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, according to the doctors' forecast, he had to live 2.5 years. The disease developed much more slowly than expected, the scientist survived, but was paralyzed, and after the operation, carried out in connection with pneumonia, he also lost the ability to speak. Meanwhile, he currently leads a fairly active lifestyle: writes books, gives lectures and meets with students, even flew in zero gravity in 2007.
In addition, he took part in the filming of the movie "The Universe of Stephen Hawking." Actors Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne with admiration recall his appearance on the set with his family (ex-wife, son and daughter). In addition to his voice, which is copyrighted, Stephen Hawking provided the filmmakers with his dissertation and the Medal of Freedom.
The idea of making a movie
It all started back in 1988 with the fact that the screenwriter E. McCartin, after reading Stephen Hawking's popular science book “A Brief History of Time,” became interested in the personality of the scientist himself. After 16 years, in 2004, he read the memoirs of Jane Hawking and, without any promises or guarantees, began work on the material. The scriptwriter met with the author of the memoir several times, and in 2009 he met Lisa Bruce, the producer of the future film. Thus, the film "Stephen Hawking's Universe", whose actors have been gradually approved since 2013, has a very long background.
In order for what is happening on the screen to be as reliable as possible, James Marsh for a long time studied archived chronicles and photographs that were directly related to the script. This has helped to achieve maximum identity.
The film "The Universe of Stephen Hawking." Actors and roles: Eddie Redmayne
The role of the ingenious English scientist, theoretical physicist and active popularizer of science Stephen Hawking was approved by British aspiring actor Eddie Redmayne. Participation in the project brought him world fame and a high appreciation of acting and talent from critics.
Before filming, the actor met with a scientist. The conversation lasted about three hours, but, by his own admission, it was not possible to ask questions about the person. After that, he decided to prepare for the role in other ways: he lost 7 kg, took dance lessons to learn how to control his body, and held meetings with 40 people with a diagnosis of amyotrophic sclerosis.
After the film was released, the scientist sent an email to the director, in which he positively noted Eddie Redmayne and admitted that at some moments he seemed to see himself. Perhaps this is the highest praise to the creators of the painting "The Universe of Stephen Hawking." Actors (you see their photos in the article), cameramen, director, scriptwriters and the entire crew as a whole brought the project to an incredibly high level of professional skill. However, numerous nominations and prestigious film awards were also not long in coming.
Actors of the movie "Stephen Hawking's Universe": Felicity Jones
The role of the former wife of the scientist Jane Hawking went to the English actress Felicity Jones and became, perhaps, her finest hour. Her career began with the filming of the series “The Worst Witch,” she is familiar with the audience from the films “The Tempest,” “Without Tantrum,” and “The New Spiderman.” High voltage".
The film itself, in fact, is an adaptation of D. Hawking’s memoir entitled "Journey to Infinity: My Life with Stephen." They met a few years before he was given a terrible diagnosis. The disease didn’t frighten the girl in love and didn’t push them away; they lived 30 years in marriage, they have three children. In the picture above you see an archived photo from a family album and a frame from a movie.
Charlie cox
The English theater and film actor on the screen embodied the image of Jonathan Jones. The general public Charlie Cox is known for the film "Stardust." A widowed choirmaster appeared in the life of a couple at a time when the marriage cracked. Feelings with Jane were mutual, but at the same time, she continued to live with Stephen. At a certain moment, the scientist even invited him to visit, unusual, but trusting and respectful relations developed between three adults. And the actors brilliantly conveyed this on the screen. “Stephen Hawking's Universe” is a film not only about science, but about love.
Simon McBurney and Abigail Kruttenden
English theater and film actors played the roles of the scientist's parents. His father, Frank Hawking, was engaged in research, and his mother, Isabelle, was a secretary in the same medical center. Stephen is not the only child in the family; he has two half-sisters and a half-brother.
Awards and nominations
The film “Stephen Hawking’s Universe” (actors and roles described above) after the release of the screens almost immediately became one of the main contenders for the Oscars. Eddie Redmayne immediately won 8 nominations for the most prestigious film awards and in five of them he was the winner, receiving prizes from the Hollywood Film Festival, the United States Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globe, BAFTA and the coveted Oscar. Is not it a good set for a little-known novice actor at that time ?!
In addition, director James Marsh and screenwriter Anthony McCartin also received the BAFTA Award, each in his own field, for his work on the film Stephen Hawking’s Universe. Actors of the entire project as a whole received the prestigious nomination of the American Guild for the best cast, but lost the victory to the black comedy Alejandro G. Inarrit “The Birdman”.
Critic reviews
Most reviews received from professional film critics are positive. Among them, the opinion of the New York Post and the Guardian. According to the popular Rotten Tomatoes website, the film has 211 reviews, with an overall rating of 80%. This is a fairly high rate. It indicates that the movie “Stephen Hawking's Universe” is included among the best. Actors and their skills were also highly praised. The talent of Eddie Redmayne, who was not even initially considered as a leading actor, was emphasized.
The rating of the film among domestic film critics is slightly higher compared to the world and is 82%.