REVIEW - HAWKING

A brief history of Stephen Hawking. This is the archetypal bio-doc, though it possesses one singular and singularly effective feature: it's narrated by its subject. We're all quite aware of Hawking's genius in the field of physics, but what's even more impressive in this film is his remarkable perspicacity on humanity, society and, especially, his own life. It's the kind of sapience one attains through a lifetime of listening. In all outward manners, Hawking is a humbled figure, and his humility informs his character; combined with such intellect, and such apparent emotional stability, Hawking is undoubtedly the most truthful, reliable narrator a film could hope for. If ever proof were needed, here it is: the perfect brain doth exist in that man's head. Director Stephen Finnigan skims through 70 years of life, pausing to elucidate the vital points along the way (expectedly, they are bounteous in number) before briskly progressing. Interviews with friends and family members are candid, and there's never a feeling that either Finnigan or Hawking himself are editing too heavily, nor in pursuit of a particular cause. It's a practice that yields admiration for the film's focus, but little more. We come to learn a lot about Stephen Hawking's head, but not his heart, not how he feels about any and all of this, or ever felt. So informative this documentary may certainly be, but emotive it resolutely is not. Sparingly-employed dramatic recreations are a bit cliched, and Finnigan has a rotten predilection for foul visual compositions of pretty scenes partially obscured by blurring, and it's immeasurably grating.