The Imitation Game

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear, Allen Leech, Matthew Beard, Charles Dance, Mark Strong
Directed by: Morten Tyldum
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Thriller
2014

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: During World War II, mathematician Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) works to break the German enigma code.

Review:

Tim: The Imitation Game was one of the last big movies of 2014 that I saw. I figured my top 10 list of the year was already set in stone. I wasn't prepared for the expertly crafted, tragic story of an arrogant genius who changed the world. I was enthralled with this movie from the very beginning. This is certainly a great movie.

Alan Turing was a truly fascinating individual, so it's no surprise that his story is an engrossing one. We see him bullied at a young age, early love, tragic loss. We see his genius explored, as well as his inability to connect with others. We see him humbled, determined, victorious. We see the heartbreaking way his life ended. In less than two hours, this film provides us with a fascinating window into this complex, complicated man. It's an incredible experience from start to finish.

I do need to start with Benedict Cumberbatch. I will say that his performance as Turing is astonishing. I've already been a fan of Cumberbatch's work, but this performance took my appreciation to new levels. He absolutely deserved the Academy Award nomination and I actually believe he was better than Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything. Cumberbatch should have won an Oscar for his remarkable performance here. Now, I will say that this role was certainly in Cumberbatch's wheelhouse- he plays a brilliant yet egotistical character on the very good "Sherlock". So, he might lose a few points for playing it safe. This is minor, though, as he brings to vivid life this interesting character. His performance hits all the right notes and he delivers a number of hilarious lines beautifully. It's truly a great performance.

He is helped by a very strong supporting cast. Keira Knightley was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, and I very much agree with the nomination. She's strong, intelligent, and fearless. She works well with Cumberbatch. I was very glad to see Knightley so strong here- I feel like she got a bad rap for many years. She's proven over the last five or so that she has real talent as an actress. Mark Strong adds his usual good supporting turn, and Charles Dance was great fun in a role perfectly suited to his talents. Matthew Goode added in a great supporting turn as well. Really, it was a top notch cast.

The film did a wonderful job of leaping between Turing's childhood, his efforts to track the Enigma code (and win World War II), and the late stages of his life. We didn't jump around too much, so it was never disruptive. Every shift in time served a purpose- to help us better understand Turing's life. What we see is compelling and there's a sense of forward movement and progression. There were very few lulls- this is a film that grabs hold of you and keeps your attention.

2014 was a great year at the movies and I'd certainly consider The Imitation Game one of the strongest contenders. This is an intellectual, engaging look at a man who contributed greatly to saving the world from evil. The vivid way the film ends, showing the tragic, awful way Turing was treated by the British government serves as a stark, somber end note. I left this movie feeling great thanks for Turing's contributions and yet heartbroken at what he was reduced to at the end of his life. For the good and the bad, this is a movie absolutely worth seeing.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: "Sherlock", The Social Network, The King's Speech, The Theory of Everything