Movie Reviews: The Theory of Everything, Project Almanac and Obvious Child

Oscar has nominated The Theory of Everything for best picture, and I think it deserves the nod.  Of course, it revolves around the performance of Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking; he does an excellent job portraying an incredibly smart and charming man whose motor skills fail him; and kudos to the make-up and costume departments for making Redmayne look like the man himself.    Felicity Jones, who plays Hawking's wife, does an equally impressive job in a role that demands much more subtlety-- she stands strong beside Hawking throughout, but we can see the internal struggle that develops as a marriage expected to only last a year continues for decades.  But as compelling as the acting is, I think the real star is director James Marsh.  I know Marsh better for documentaries like Man on Wire, and he uses those documentary techniques to create a greater intimacy with these characters; at times we feel like voyeurs (let's be honest, we are!). He's also very inventive when approximating Hawking's thought processes-- for a film about a man in a wheelchair, it's quite stimulating visually.  I don't think it's going to win over those who dislike lofty prestige films, but for anybody who cares what Oscar thinks, you'll be thoroughly entertained.

I needed some counter-programming for all the Oscar-bait I've seen lately, and some sci-fi teen-sploitation like Project Almanac  fit the bill.  First off, if you're sick of hand-held cameras and fake documentary style, don't see this film.  But if you can stomach it, they do a reasonable job of explaining why there's always a camera there: they're making scientific breakthroughs, man!  This $h!t needs to be recorded!  So the film progresses as you would expect if teenage boys built a time machine (there are a couple token girls in the gang, but understand that this is about male adolescent wish-fulfillment and not the female equivalent).  They throw together some arbitrary rules about using the machine, but don't hesitate to use it as their own personal reset button.  Unlike most time travel films, the problems our heroes face aren't so much about the consequences of time travel (though there's a little bit of that); instead it's when the group dynamic changes that their headaches begin.  What's disappoint about this film is that it touches on some interesting ideas, but then breezes by them in order to forward the plot.  This is one of those films I suspect had a really good script to start with, but got doctored into shallow pap by the Hollywood revision machine.  But it is a fun diversion if that's what you're looking for.  Go see it with friends, then afterward discuss how you could've done it better.

I'll admit, I went to see Obvious Child because the trailer for it used the Paul Simon song of the same name-- it has the best drum sound ever!  But the movie is quite good beyond its Simonesque title.  Jenny Slate stars as a stand-up comedienne gets pregnant after what she thinks is a one night stand.  She plans to get an abortion, but as this man turns into a legitimate suitor, she has to weigh the wisdom of telling him about it.  The characters are very well drawn and the world the protagonist lives in is fully realized-- this movie feels honest and intimate while managing to be quite funny.  Recommended.