THE IMITATION GAME  3.5***

Per my research, the life story of Alan Turing has inspired books, documentaries, a choral composition, and even a musical . Yet for most people, he and his accomplishments are unknown. But his work quite literally changed the world in a number of different ways. If you're reading this review on a computer, for example, you owe a debt of gratitude to the late Mr. Turing, the “father” of computers. A brilliant mathematician, he was responsible for building a machine, a computer, that cracked the Nazi Engima code, thought to be unbreakable, during WWII. The Imitation Game recounts that experience, celebrating Turing's accomplishments and his misfortunes while also taking a long, hard look at  the nature and cost of keeping secrets. .

 

There's  a line that is repeated for emphasis in the movie about how it might be the ones we don’t imagine  making a difference who  go on to imagine incredible things  The repetition works. It has an impact because by the end when I heard it again, it gave me chills. We  get to understand the depth of that line, and how it can inspire and change the world, which is a quite accomplishment for any  film.

 

The Imitation Game is a lively, exciting beat-the-clock thriller that shows the hurdles Turing faces. Inability to get along with others, technical malfunctions, a government that didn't always understand what he was doing – all these things and more make an already difficult challenge that much harder. One of the most pleasurable aspects of the film is that it avoids stodginess in telling the story. While it pays deep respect to the accomplishment Turing achieved – and builds a strong feeling of mounting suspense - there are still many moments of humor, and the dialogue between characters is frequently sharp and witty. The approach ensures that The Imitation Game holds your attention for every second, as you wait to see how each challenge will be met.

 

Benedict Cumberbatch is outstanding as Turing,  creating a character who is socially awkward and immensely focused . Cumberbatch makes it all feel authentic, so that we believe in his ability to make his machine work while also understanding how frustrating he is to the not-quite-so-understanding people around him. Keira Knightley also gives a solid supporting actress performance of the  as the woman who initially fears the point of the mission, then comes to vehemently defend it and Turing.

 

Clark