By 
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING ***
For ages the human race has been trying to reveal the mysteries of Creation, attempting to understand God’s will, reconnect and reconcile with the Creator. Most reassure their belief, confirming the Holy Scriptures as the Book of Life; some are in search of self-identity, looking for answers in other sources, other ideas and methods. And some will only follow (and believe) whatever the natural instinct of their conclusions lead them to. That’s the case of the scientist Stephen Hawkins, haunted by his emotions and charged with incredible wisdom in the field of physics, who believes he’s found the answer for the beginning of Existence. After arduous study and an accident that left him gradually paralyzed, Hawkins decides the universe, the stars, Earth and the creatures were the creative result of a big explosion, denying the existence of a Supreme Force. Everyone knows our World is broken and needs healing and transformation. Hollywood knows that too, and so, the industry has invested in many productions with the contexts of Creation; many directors also engaged themselves into this aesthetic, predominantly this year, with narratives that point to an analysis on the modern disasters, natural, social and moral. Motivated by his wisdom, Hawkins continues developing the subject, despite his disease, gaining repercussion worldwide, writing books and monitoring other studies, with the support of his strong wife, who literally carries his cross. Directed by James Marsh, this efficient drama narrates the touching story of a man who’s defied by his own limits, and struggles to remain alive. There are some flaws, such as the, sometimes, incomprehensive tone in the protagonist’s voice, the exaggeration of the narrative focusing on his difficulties, trying to pull out tears from the audience, and some repetitive details of each phase of the disease. But that becomes relevant for the film, especially because the actors are excellent, and their effort are compensative: Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones give respectable performances as the young couple, he’s heart-breaking as the scientist and she’s extremely admirable with the powerful endurance brought to her character. Although the film tells the story of an atheist, it seems to be the most faithful Christian film of the season, because as he watches the dedication of his wife, his playful kids growing, the world changing into chaos, and all the privileges he’s been given, despite the tragic circumstances, he comes to conclusion that Someone up there is completely in control and is looking out for those down here. Even for those who insist contrarily.
DVD: LINES OF WELLINGTON
This spectacular epic recounts the days of the Napoleonic Wars of 1810, when they invaded Portugal. The camera follows a multitude of characters, visiting all parts involved, soldiers, civilians, men, women, children, depicting the effects and consequences of the horrors. But the film is filled with a powerful sensibility, an astonishing beauty in the dialogs, in the visual and in the music, which makes it an unforgettable experience, and an accurate historic tale. John Malkovich, Isabelle Huppert and Catherine Deneuve are among the stars appearing here, but the film belongs to Carloto Cotta as the wounded lieutenant, who crosses everyone’s path and manages to survive triumphantly. A stunning Masterpiece! (On DVD by Film Movement)
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