The Man Who Knew Infinity

10 September 2018

The Man Who Knew Infinity 2015

• Director: Matt Brown
• Based on book: no
• Cast: Dev Patel, Jeremy Irons, Stephen Fry, Devika Bhise, Toby Jones, Jeremy Northam
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Dev Patel – Hotel Marigold 1 & 2, Slumdog Millionaire
• Jeremy Irons – Their Finest Hour, Beautiful Creatures, The Hollow Crown, Kingdom of Heaven, Being Julia, The Merchant of Venice, Longitude, The House of Spirits, Waterland, Kafka, Reversal of Fortune, Australia, The French Lieutenant’s Woman
• Stephen Fry – Hobbit et al, Twelfth Night, Sherlock Holmes a Game of Shadows, Sherlock Holmes, Extras, V for Vendetta, Tristram Shandy, Bright Young Things, Gosford Park, Longitude, Black Adder, Whatever Happened to Harold Smith?, Wilde, Jeeves and Wooster, Peter’s Friends, A Fish Called Wanda, A Handful of Dust  
• Toby Jones – The Hunger Games, Snow White and the Huntsman, My Week with Marilyn, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Doctor Who, Creation, Frost/Nixon, The Mist, Amazing Grace, Infamous, Finding Neverland, Ladies in Lavender, Hotel Splendide, Ever After, Les Misérables, Naked, Orlando
• Jeremy Northam – Our Kind of Traitor, Creation, Tristram Shandy, Gosford Park, Happy Texas, Amistad
• Why? It sounded good. Good cast
• Seen: 8 August 2018      

       A self-taught mathematical genius, Ramanujan (Patel) in India is scorned by the British occupants in the early 20^th century. He finally gets a job and support from his boss to find someone who understands his work and will publish it.

       The mathematical genius at Trinity College, Hardy (Irons) who gets his letter, dismisses it at first as a hoax but then realises it’s genuine and invites Ramanujan to England.

       Ramanujan’s young wife Janiki (Bhise) is not happy but off he goes.

       Hardy is astounded at Ramanujan’s formulas but demands proof that they work. Not everyone appreciates Ramanujan’s genius. Racism and resentment abound.

       Janiki waits for him to summon him to England but his mother hides their letters to each other and they both believe the other has abandoned their marriage. The war breaks out. Hardy and Bertram Russell (Northam) become involved in the peace movement. Ramanujan falls seriously ill.

       A top-notch performance is given by all, especially the two leads Patel and Irons. It leans a little too heavily on religion but it’s very dramatic and quite captivating. And oh yes, based on a true story.

4 * of 5