Review: Einstein and Eddington

When I first heard about this movie, I assumed it was just another unexciting documentary about the scientific achievements of the last century. But no, this is a proper drama with a great cast and a compelling plot, based on true events of course. This film tells the story of two great physicists, Albert Einstein (Andy Serkis aka Gollum) and Arthur Stanley Eddington (David Tennant aka Doctor Who), and their struggle to develop a new theory of gravity, i.e. General Relativity, while their countries were segregated through the horrors of the first world war.



If you are worried that you don't know enough physics to appreciate this movie, fear not! There is very little science talk in the movie, but when there is, it is mostly well explained with relatively simple examples (I'd bet my Electron Tunneling Microscope that any spill member who is interested in this movie can watch it without getting confuseld). The film is far more concerned with the personal development of the two protagonists, which is shown for example in Eddington's struggle to keep his religious faith in the face bereavement and unsettling scientific truths or in Einstein's difficulty in dealing with his family and a scientific community focused on warfare.

Overall, the film is a fascinating journey through one of the greatest scientific discoveries in cosmology and deals with many unusual yet very relevant issues such as the incorporation of science and faith as well as the moral responsibilities of scientists. Throughout this, Andy Serkis gives an incredible performance, portraying one of the most eccentric human beings that ever lived as a reletable person, not as a caricature as it has been done so many times before. Praise should also go to David Tennant and Jim Broadbent whose performances were equally gripping.

Clearly, this movie took some liberties when retelling the story, but that's ok if you ask me, because it got the soul right - When you watch Albert Einstein and Max Planck lying drunk on the floor of Einstein's apartment, working out mathematical solutions for the orbit of mercury, you'll know what physics is all about.

Now, if you have the slightest interest in modern physics and how it came to be, you will not regret watching this movie. It is as entertaining as it is informative, so for people like you, I give this a solid 'matinee'. However, if you consider yourself a to be a true physics geek, this is a must-see for you i.e. 'Full price'. Unfortunately, since this movie was a production for the British television, you probably won't be able to see this in the cinema. Well, you could try to get it on DVD or just watch it online. It's on youtube.

Well, thanks for reading my review. Here are just a few relevant pieces of back ground information that might enhance your viewing experience:



Helpful Background Info

Isaac Newton - Inventor of the original concept of gravity. His theory showed that all pieces of matter attract each other with an invisible force proportional to their mass and inversely proportional to their distance to each other (i.e. a large object near by exerts a great force on you, a small object far away, not so much). Einstein was to challenge this theory.

Max Planck - A German physicist and friend of Einstein, heavily involved in the development of quantum physics. In the film he was played by Donald Sumpter, but without a mustache.

The Ether - A redundant scientific idea of a mystical invisible substance that is found throughout the universe through which light waves travel. The Ether was disproven and Einstein's law of special relativity was put in it's place.

Special Relativity - Einstein showed that there is no such thing as a definitive state of rest, i.e. if I'm moving towards you at a constant speed, I could claim that you are actually moving towards me and there is nothing you can do to prove me wrong. Space is relative. Further, Special relativity also includes Einstein's laws derived from the fact that light is always observed at the same speed, regardless how fast it's source is moving towards or away from you.

General Relativity - Well, i think I'd may be giving away too much so I stop here. Enjoy the movie.