For those of you who might be unfamiliar with the movie, the
plot is based on the life and work of cryptologist Alan Turning who cracked the
enigma code at Bletchley Park during WWII, thus helping the Allies to defeat
the Germans. So kind of a big deal.
Now let’s be honest, any movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch is
going to be worth watching and the Imitation Game definitely did not disappoint,
but at the same time it just didn’t dazzle me either.
Make no make mistake, Benedict Cumberbatch is marvellous in as
the intelligent, aggressive yet socially awkward Alan Turning, who is so unjustly
treated for his sexuality. The vulnerability he brings to this role will no
doubt earn him a flurry of awards and an Oscar nomination. Keira Knightly, who
I dread watching in any movie where she is not in a period costume of some sort,
does a decent job of playing Joan Clarke, Turning’s trust friend and confidante.
It’s a role which might see her bag a few nominations as well. There are also
good performances from the rest of the supporting cast, including Matthew
Goode, Charles Dance, Mark Strong and Allen Leech.
While historically and scientifically fascinating, my major
complaint about this movie has to be the nonlinear narrative in which plot
unfolded. The story could have been conducted in a chronological fashion and
still had the same impact; instead it unnecessarily flashed forward and backwards
between three different type periods and lacked cohesion at times.
Despite this, The Imitation Game is a great movie. It’s a story
about an unsung hero whose genius and perseverance saved the lives of thousands
during WWII. It’s a story about a man
who was persecuted for his sexuality. It’s a story that deserves to be told.
Rating: 8/10
