Benedict Cumberbatch
Keira Knightley
Matthew Goode
Rory Kinnear
Charles Dance
Mark Strong

Graham Moore

114 mins.
Biography, Drama, Thriller
November 28, 2014

Rated PG-13 for some sexual references, mature thematic material and historical smoking. (MPAA)

“The Imitation Game,” whose title references a game (the Turing test) that’s used to determine whether something’s a human or a computer, is a well-staged, mostly well-paced film. It’s very good. But it could have been great. The attention paid to developing the main storyline, the creation of Alan Turing’s code-breaking machine (a precursor to the modern computer), delivers. There’s a musicality to those scenes that’s engrossing, especially in the group scenes. Alexandre Desplat’s score is especially helpful on that count. And the staging of those scenes is lovely.

The first time that Turing and his fellow code breakers meet is perfectly staged. Just take a look at how Mark Strong is blocked – quietly watching by the window drapes – and at how the camera introduces each character. When the film comes back to this scene later on, you remember it. Another great example of meticulous staging and musicality is when Turing seeks new members for his group via a crossword contest. The cutting from one potential candidate to another is expertly executed. This film, spurred by smartly written dialogue and even smarter performances, comes alive in those moments. It avoids the pitfalls of “The Monuments Men,” for instance.

However, that musicality is lost during the scenes that are of a more personal nature. Overall, those scenes lack the same care and attention as the code-breaking scenes. One exception is the ending of the “Christopher” arc. Turing named his computer after his childhood love; and by the end of the film, that storyline feels developed, though not revelatory. Unfortunately, this film runs out of gas by the time it gets there.

The main problem is that “The Imitation Game” seems to be wary of its main character’s sexuality. In some ways, that wariness echoes the thinking that led to Turing’s public disgrace and subsequent suicide. Just a bit, though; let’s not get carried away. It’s as if director Morten Tyldum and writer Graham Moore said: “Let’s not go too far here. We don’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.” They either should’ve focused solely on the code-breaking or given the personal elements much more depth, especially in regards to the events that led to Turing’s criminal conviction. Those elements deserve the same level of artistry as the rest of the film.

Outside of those moments, the direction and script are spot-on. I’m not talking about historical accuracy. This is fiction based on a true story: Get over it. The dialogue is intelligent and mostly sharp, though there are moments when you can tell that the writer was trying to force some of that intelligence. And the acting is thoroughly accomplished; there isn’t one actor who doesn’t fit. Benedict Cumberbatch is fully supported by the rest of the cast, including Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Mark Strong, Charles Dance, and Allen Leech. He doesn’t tower over them. Instead, they form a cohesive ensemble. But I must note that Cumberbatch, once again, proves that he’s a consummate actor. He conveys Turing’s apparent Asperger’s syndrome (supposedly of dubious historical authenticity) and inner turmoil without looking like he’s trying.

At its best, “The Imitation Game” is like a jigsaw puzzle that’s been put together with care. It recalls the magic of “A Beautiful Mind” in that way. I just wish that I could say that about the entire film, instead of certain sections.

Verdict: Very Good

About: (Source: theimitationgame)

During the winter of 1952, British authorities entered the home of mathematician, cryptanalyst and war hero Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) to investigate a reported burglary. They instead ended up arresting Turing himself on charges of ‘gross indecency’, an accusation that would lead to his devastating conviction for the criminal offense of homosexuality – little did officials know, they were actually incriminating the pioneer of modern-day computing. Famously leading a motley group of scholars, linguists, chess champions and intelligence officers, he was credited with cracking the so-called unbreakable codes of Germany’s World War II Enigma machine. An intense and haunting portrayal of a brilliant, complicated man, THE IMITATION GAME follows a genius who under nail-biting pressure helped to shorten the war and, in turn, save millions of lives.