Review of The Imitation Game (2014) by Elliott K — 24 Oct 2015

Jumping on the Biopic Bandwagon this awards season is The Imitation Game (along with a host of other "movies based on true story") that's clearly hoping to be in contention for the big prize.

  And it will probably be nominated... it's just not going to win.  It's a good movie: it's got humor, heart, a good story, and most importantly, it's really enjoyable.  It's just not a great movie.

  What does make it a cut above the rest is the outstanding performance of Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, who leads a group of cryptologists in cracking the Nazi enigma code, and thus, helps the Allies win WWII.

   It's good to see Cumberbatch really go out-of-the-box and stretch as an actor by playing a socially-inept genius (*cough*, that's sarcasm, for those of you who do not watch 'Sherlock').

  In actuality, though both Turing and Sherlock are exactly the same characters on paper, what Cumberbatch has done to make them completely different people is remarkable.  The supporting cast is solid as well, though I think Keira Knightley's performance is talked up a little too much - she plays the same scrappy cute girl that she always plays.

  In addition to the acting, the film does a great job in making a potentially dull story about people sitting around trying to break a code a very engaging experience for the viewer.  It succeeds mostly by bringing a human element into it, to the degree that by the end, you want them to crack the code because you care about these people and what they are trying so hard to accomplish, it's not even about the war.

  That's a huge credit to the filmmakers.  However, I also had some problems with it, namely, the villain who has NO FATHOMABLE REASON for being a villain, and the flashbacks/flash-forwards, the former of which has no purpose and the latter of which should have been given more time or not included at all.

  The timeline jumps around unnecessarily which detracts from the actual story.  Why is everyone so afraid of just telling a simple linear story these days?!   This movie is a historical drama, and it would have been better served to treat it as such.

  Despite its flaws, it's a gripping and emotionally charged movie, rounded off with great performances.  Though it could have been better, it's still a really good movie.   .