recommended

Good concept, poorly executed.

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Hawking is galvanised to take meaning of his life when he is diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease as a student at Cambridge University. He is 21 and in love with a girl called Jane.The love story is the least interesting part of this film. It is the coming together of the disparate strands of this film which generates excitement in this drama. Hawking studying for his doctorate rejects Sir Fred Hoyle's solid state theory that the universe has always existed and always will. Inspired by the work of Roger Penrose and the thought of Einstein he develops the big bang theory.Intercut with Hawking's life is a television interview set in 1978 with Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, just before they go to collect their Nobel prize for Physics. We later find out that their earlier discovery provides an important link to Hawking's theory.

The Theory of Everything is a fine film, as Hollywood films go, but this BBC Production "Hawking," made several years earlier, has me wondering why Hollywood bothered, as none could match the performances in nor the spirit of this film. A lovely portrayal (as usual) by Cumberbatch as Hawking, and Firth makes the perfect (sympathetic and pitiable) antagonist. This film, in contrast to the recent Hollywood knock-off, focuses on the brilliance and courage of an amazing man with an amazing mind. The film begins in the 1960s, prior to the onset of Hawking's motor neuron disease, and focuses on his struggle to maintain his work while fighting the progression of motor dysfunction. As a (retired) member of the academy, I can attest to the realism of the struggles he faces in gaining support for his work, and the energy required to do so, brilliantly portrayed in this film. I was privileged to see Professor Hawking speak once in Seattle, and one knew that one was in the presence of a once-in-a-generation mind. This film, and Cumberbatch's performance, authentically conveys that sense. Highly recommended.

Entertaining, educational and completely inspiring! Hawking is a film that really makes you want to go out and learn. Thanks to the humane nature of the person it's revolved around. Stephen Hawking.The movie starts off with Steven Hawking laying on a coach (in a position highly resembling how we lays on his speech generating device) watching television. The movie instantly kicks off to going to Cambridge and when he gets Motor Neuron Disease, nevertheless the man soldiers on going to Cambridge to discover Einsteins theory of relativity! Be assured if you don't have any interest in science, there will be several scenes that will either bore you or not make much sense, especially the transitions between Stephen and the nobel prize winners.As an individual with a passion for physics, the actual prospect of this being purely a educational documentary intrigues me! But it's more! This drama is brilliantly told with fantastic screenplay (Written by Steven Moffat)!Benedict Cumberbatch continues to amaze me with his amazing acting skills! From Sherlock to Hawking- this man is f***ing brilliant!The soundtrack really reflects the plot well as your marvel at how brilliant Hawking was! It starts of great,then goes slightly slow but the climax is compelling enough to satisfy most viewers.Defiantly check this one out!

This has just shown on BBC2 here in the U.K this very night, and i'am still thinking about it five hour's later. the performances of the cast especially Benedict Cumberbatch as the young Stephen Hawking were superb. The sreenplay while somewhat fictionalized was to the point and highly emotive. The scienific plight of Hawking was simply and well told and the scenes of his horribly degenerating disease( M.N) are highly moving. My uncle died of this disease a year after being diagnosed, that Hawking has continued living with this disease for forty years is not only a testament to his will but also the passion he holds in his life and groundbreaking work. Superb! This should win awards around the world seriously and far, far better than the over praised A Beautiful Mind.Hawking truly was a beautiful mind.