Bearing a haunting resemblance to 2001’s “A Beautiful Mind,” “The Theory of Everything” wonderfully unveils a biography boiling with heartbreak and reality without glazing over a period in history.

The film takes a look at the relationship between esteemed physicist Stephen Hawking and his wife Jane. The story is moreso about how far people can go for the ones they love, than it is simply about the genius of Hawking himself. Eddie Redmayne, who portrays Hawking, does an impeccable job of resembling the scientist for what he more than likely was, while Felicity Jones tremendously portrays the struggle of a wife who must watch as her husband fades into non-existence. This is a remarkable story that needed to be told and we can all breathe a sigh of relief that they got it right the first time around. It can be difficult to flesh out a relationship like Stephen and Jane’s in only a two-hour runtime, especially when the story spans over several decades, but the script and acting were so developed that I felt connected to the story early on.

Unfortunately, the technical aspects of the film were not nearly as eye-opening as the story itself. I was unmoved by the cinematography and was completely unconvinced by the makeup that was intended to show Jane’s aging through the years. I will say, however, the original score was perfectly attuned to the overall feel of the film.

In total, the film has collected five Academy Award nominations, including one for best picture and two in the lead acting categories for Redmayne and Jones. I don’t believe that it has a serious chance at best picture (in fact, I would be disappointed if it were to win, given the competition), but I think that the film could sweep both acting awards. It was a film that depended enormously on the lead performances, and both artists did an incredible job of exhibiting their sheer talent.

If you find the story too dull or cliché, you must at least respect this film for its flair. As tragic as it is to watch Hawking collapse, it is utterly gratifying to see how well Redmayne portrayed his demise. As far as best picture nominees go, I would put “The Theory of Everything” somewhere in the middle of the pack. Last year, it would have been a strong contender but I wouldn’t envision the film putting up much of a fight against the likes of “Birdman” or “Boyhood.”

Don’t mark my words, because if there’s anything Argo taught us, it’s that the show ain’t over ‘till it’s over. This film gets my PASS.

My Rating: 8/10

Jack is a sophomore in Media. He can be reached at [email protected].