“The Imitation Game” is one of those Awards Season films every studio dreams of having on their “For Your Consideration” list. The true-life drama captured the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival and it’s destined to be a favorite among voters over the next few months, as is star Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays British mathematician and WWII code-breaking genius Alan Turing.
Adapted from the book, “Alan Turing: The Enigma” by Andrew Hodges, screenwriter Graham Moore and director Morten Tyldum present us with multi-layered, enriching, moving and high-stakes love stories through three different periods of Turing’s life. It’s a lot to handle early-on, but as the film progresses, it becomes clear why all these elements are necessary.
As a teenager at an all boys’ boarding school, Turing is bullied for being smarter than everyone else and a little different. It’s during this period when he develops a fascination with and a talent for solving puzzles and breaking codes. At the same time, he’s trying to develop his own identity. In addition we see Turing dealing with life after the war (1951 – which serves as present time). The British police are investigating Turing, believing he may be keeping more secrets than those he held while working during the war.
However, the majority of the film is set during wartime. Joan Clarke (played by Keira Knightley) and the other top code breakers in the UK are recruited by the military and brought to Britain’s Bletchley Park, in hopes they can solve Germany’s Enigma Code machine, which everyday sends out orders to the Nazi troops where and when the next attacks will take place. Turing sets-out to create a machine of his own. It’s essentially the first computer: a giant device that he (and only he) believes will allow him to intercept the Nazi messages and break their complicated, unsolvable codes. Turing calls it ‘Christopher’.
You may already know some of Turing’s life story before seeing “The Imitation Game”, but in no way will that detract from your appreciation of this film. Tyldum masterfully weaves together these three phases of one life, resulting in a narrative that is easy to follow yet complex enough to genuinely surprise at just the right moments. In an early voiceover we are told to “pay attention”, and that turns out to be the right advice, because you can rarely predict what’s coming next.
I didn’t expect Cumberbatch to be this impressive. It’s a heavily emotional role, with dynamics of love, hate, true love and true hate. Through Cumberbatch’s bold and brave performance, we are able to understand the turmoil Turing is going through 24/7, and why breaking the Enigma Code, the most important thing in his life, can’t solve all of his problems. Knightley, who plays the lone female on the code-breaking team, is also excellent. She and Cumberbatch have pitch-perfect exchanges, including one heartbreaking scene at the end of the film, which showcases both actors and the authenticity they bring to these roles. Knightley will be in the mix for Best Supporting Actress consideration.
“The Imitation Game” presents a lot of serious ethical issues, which you’ll think about long after the credits end. Tyldum has crafted a film about a group of people we truly care about, looking to do the impossible, and dealing with the harsh realities of what that may bring. It’s suspenseful and surprising, heroic and heartbreaking…and one of the best films of the year.
On The Official LCJ Report Card, “The Imitation Game” gets an A-.