SPOILER ALERT ALERT!
The Imitation Game
***1/2
Review by Justin T. Bowler
@IndyFilmTwittic
Historical Spoilers Ahead! If you do NOT KNOW WORLD HISTORY, or do NOT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT WORLD HISTORY, then DO NOT KEEP READING!
You can find a synopsis of “The Imitation Game” just about anywhere, so I won’t bother giving you more than just the IMDB log line (and as I warned, HISTORICAL SPOILERS AHEAD!): “During World War II, mathematician Alan Turing tries to crack the enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians.” (SPOILER: THERE WAS A WORLD WAR… TWICE). That is not the best log line for the film, as the heart of the story lies in the hypocrisy of that era’s British Government (and many other governments for that matter).
Alan Turing, played well by Benedict Cumberbatch, is a mathematician, a gay mathematician (SPOILER: ALAN TURING LIKED MEN). He was enlisted by the British government to crack the German enigma code (SPOILER: THE GERMANS WERE THE BAD GUYS IN WORLD WAR II) (SPOILER: WHILE ALAN TURING LIKED MEN, HE PROBALY DIDN’T LIKE GERMAN MEN).
Cumberbatch is great in nearly every role he plays. He has earned his first Academy Nomination for “The Imitation Game” (SPOILER: BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH WAS NOMINATED FOR AN ACADEMY AWARD). Alan Turing is portrayed in the film as a self-absorbed, absurdly knowledgeable know it all, who insults everyone around him who’s not as bright as he is. Sound familiar? It is virtually the same as Cumberbatch’s portrayal of Sherlock Holmes (SPOILER: BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH PLAYS SHERLOCK HOLMES) (AND HIS PORTAYAL OF SHERLOCK IS AS A SELF-ABSORBED, ABSURDLY KNOWLEDGEABLE KNOW IT ALL, WHO INSULTS EVERYONE AROUND HIM THAT IS NOT AS BRIGHT AS HE IS). While Cumberbatch also gives Turing an element of hurt or confusion that is not seen in Sherlock, the similarities between the characters are many. But, since most Americans don’t watch British television, his portrayal of this type of character is completely new, hence the nomination. This is not to say he isn’t deserving of it, because he is. His performance is excellent.
After Turing breaks the German enigma code (SPOILER: TURING BREAKS THE ENIGMA CODE), he is convicted of indecency (homosexuality) by the British government. In 1951, it was a crime (as in AGAINST THE LAW) to be gay. Alan Turing was convicted and forced to go to prison or receive weekly estrogen treatments. These treatments drive him to suicide.
The main story here is not about his race against time to crack the code and save the free world. (SPOILER: ALAN TURING SAVES THE FREE WORLD). The main story of this movie is the injustice of a society so wrapped up in it’s moral laws that it disregards the literal world-changing achievements of someone who is different than the majority populace. “What? Someone is different? Persecute them.” That is just the kind of thing a dick in 1951 would say (SPOILER: PEOPLE IN 1951 WERE DICKS).
The movie is not a perfectly made film, but it is an important film. Hence, like “Selma”, another imperfect, but important film, it is justified in its nomination. It is important because, if we re-examine the mistakes we, as a populace, have made in the past, perhaps it will teach us to be better in the future.
3.5 stars out of 4 for movie fans (see this film, it’s IMPORTANT)
0.5 stars out of 4, if you are a Nazi sympathizer
Directed by: Morten Tyldum
Release Date: December 25, 2015
Run Time: 114 Minutes
Country: UK/USA
Rated: PG-13
Distributor: The Weinstein Company
A movie which oozes Britishness from every frame, The Imitation Game is an instant classic. Wartime Britain is depicted vividly, if a little caricatured, with an autumnal palette and a jaunty air.
A true story, sympathetically told, with good performances all round and a stand-out Turing from the indefatigable Mr Cumberbatch. The young Turing is also extremely well realised by Alex Lawther.
Meandering through Alan Turing’s life since school until shortly before his death, the script demands your attention and regularly makes you smile.
Highly recommended.