Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
This shows physicist Stephen Hawking's life as he deals with the ALS that renders him immobile and unable to speak without the use of a computer. Hawking's friends, family, classmates, and peers are interviewed not only about his theories but the man himself.
Errol Morris brings his distinctive documentary sensibility to Stephen Hawking's life and theories, crafting something far more atmospheric and personal than a standard science documentary. The non-linear structure, Morris's signature interrotron technique, and Philip Glass's haunting score give the film a genuinely singular texture. The subject matter—bridging cosmic physics with intimate biography—is handled with unusual elegance. Acting is not applicable in the traditional sense but interview subjects are compelling. Cinematography is stylized and deliberate for a documentary, above average. The narrative arc is coherent but not dramatically structured enough to stand out. The ending is reflective rather than conclusive, fitting but not memorable.