Benedict Cumberbatch continues to prove he is one of the most versatile, engaging performers in recent times in Morten Tyldum’s “The Imitation Game.” Cumberbatch plays Alan Turing, a brilliant but eccentric mathematician who is hired by the British government to decrypt the enigmatic code of German war communications during World War Two. Turing and his team of code-breakers are in a race against time as the death toll continues to climb on the battle front.
Turing is a complex character: he is a loner, a homosexual, stubborn, rebellious, and pompous at times. I can’t imagine anyone playing the part better than Cumberbatch. This is why he was nominated for an Oscar for this role. The whole cast is effective including Keira Knightley. Turing’s unique mindset compels him to go against the dictates of the crowd and his fellow code-breakers: he constructs a massive contraption he calls “Christopher”, really the first computer, and struggles to get it working in attempts to break the elusive German communication codes.
The film also does interesting things narratively in the portrayal of past, present, and future events. It effectively iterates the various timelines in a manner that is never confusing and orientates the viewer efficiently within the fabric of the narrative.
The period detail is masterful and compelling and the direction is excellent as well. It is one of the most exciting, enjoyable films you will see from 2014.
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