World War II true stories have proven to be an almost endless fodder for acclaimed films. They’re stories of great bravery and self-sacrifice. Today also sees the release of UNBROKEN, the story of a true hero who triumphed against all the odds. This new film THE IMITATION GAME gives us another hero, albeit a more cerebral one. He never took to the battlefield or the sea or sky. His weapon against the enemy was his intellect, using his brain instead of brawn. But the two men share a fierce determined spirit, a keen focus. But while Louis Zamperini was lauded and celebrated after war’s end, this man’s efforts stayed in the shadows. And because of intolerance he was shunned and prosecuted. But now his tremendous accomplishments are recognized. With this exceptional new film, more people will be aware of the remarkable life and legacy of Alan Turing.
Interestingly, we first meet this man several years after the great war. It’s 1951 and police detective Nock (Rory Kinnear) is investigating a break-in at the home of Professor Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), who insists that nothing’s been stolen. He bruskly dismisses the officers, which fires up Nock’s radar. He gets Turing’s war records, an empty envelope. Flashback to 1939 as Great Britain is at war with Germany. Turing is called in from Cambridge by Commander Dennison (Charles Dance). After a testy first meeting, Turing is enlisted as part of a team of linguists and mathematicians to crack the code on messages out of Germany using their own recently captured “Enigma” machine. The code is changed every 24 hours, so the team must calculate millions of possibilities and combinations in less than a day. Turing theorizes that the only way to “beat” a machine is with another machine. Luckily he has the ear of MI-6 agent Menzies (Mark Strong) who delivers his request to Churchill for funds to build his encryption machine, a computer prototype. Turing’s put in charge, and soon assembles his own team. He places a newspaper ad featuring a crossword puzzle to recruit aides. One of the most gifted applicants is Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley), the only woman who becomes a close confidant of Turing. The film then flashes further back to his days at Sherborne School where the lonely, bullied young Turing (Alex Lawther) developed a deep friendship with another math prodigy Christopher Morcom (Jack Bannon). But it’s more than schoolyard friendship. Soon Clarke shares the knowledge of Turing’s secret life as a closeted homosexual, at a time when such a lifestyle could be cause for arrest and imprisonment. As the war escalates, the duo must keep this hidden along with their work in “Hut #8”, as Dennison imposes a strict deadline on results from Turing’s machine. And, in later years, Det. Nock, slowly unravels the truth of Turing’s secret life then and now.
This is a star making turn for Mr. Cumberbatch, or I should say “movie star”. Television viewers are familiar with him, mostly for his stellar work as the modern-day version of the classic sleuth in “Sherlock”. He’s been toiling away on the telly and on the big screen for the last dozen years with his highest profile film role as the “big baddie” in last Summer’s STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS. Here he earns leading man status as the conflicted, awkward, secretive Turing, He exudes intelligence, but is often at a loss in dealing with others until Joan enters his life, with her there’s finally a real connection. . But even with her, he must shield his true self and put up the barriers. In his final time with her, and talking with Nock, he is able to show the inner sadness. But he refuses to be a victim, with the confidence in his own abilities often mistaken for arrogance. It’s a complex, multi-layered role that Cumberbatch expertly essays.
Happily he’s helped by a superb supporting cast that rises to his level. The very busy Knightely (this is her fourth feature this year) is freed from the often flighty romantic leads and gives us a smart, sassy, savvy heroine who can stand up to anyone. But she never hides her affection and respect for the seemingly distant Turing. Matthew Goode turns in a great performance as Hugh Alexander, the ladies’ man who had been running the show at the “hut”. His resentment at Turing soon gives away to respect and brother-like affection as he realizes the impact of their work. Dance is all stiff-upper-lip, by the book military who can barely hide his annoyance at the undisciplined civilian scholars. Strong is a scene-stealer as the smooth-as-silk spy who believes in Turing’s gifts (one wonders if Commander Ian Fleming might have been inspired by Menzies). Kinnear is great as the beat cop who is awed by and sympathetic to the persecuted professor. Special mention should be made of the superb work by Lawther who expertly conveys the younger Turing and compliments the work of Cumberbatch. For once they’ve got actors at the same level playing the hero at pivotal life moments. There’s not a weak link in this strong chain of acting talents.
In his first all-English language feature, Morten Tyldum directs with a steady confident hand, getting the most impact from his great cast while never overwhelming the viewer in complex mathematics. As the story jumps back and forth between 27′,39′ and 51′, it never loses its dramatic momentum, thanks in large part to first time feature screenwriter Graham Moore’s adaptation of the novel by Andrew Hodges, “Alan Tuting: the Enigma”. Alexandre Despalt’s subtle score never intrudes on the drama. The superb art direction and costume design make the time periods come alive naturally. The film never becomes a dry, dull lecture due to the great doses of humor and wit. By the final fade-out you’ll be pleased to learn of the great recognition Turing has received in recent years, but this is tempered with a heavy melancholy. Just think of the wonders he could have given us had ignorance and intolerance not extinguished his light after only four decades. THE IMITATION GAME is one of the year’s best cinematic achievements, a true must-see.
5 Out of 5
