It has been a mixed time of year for World War 2 films: With Fury, you had a relatively predictable, tense at points but overall unmemorable War flick set 'on the ground' with soldiers actually fighting the war. However Morten Tyldum has brought us something that very few film directors bring in this day and age, a legitimately original and engaging WW2 film without any actual wartime conflict on screen.
The Imitation Game film tells the story of Alan Turing (portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch), a British mathematician who is now infamously responsible for breaking the German 'Enigma' codes in the 1940's. This film focuses entirely on the characters and the secrets kept hidden from the world during this horrific time.
The film elegantly connects the story with three important stages in Turing's life; his difficult school years, his time breaking Enigma at the 'Government Code and Cyphering School' in Bletchley Park and a police investigation into his personal life in 1951. Tyldum's direction, while not hugely original in terms of cinematography, has a beautiful grace and style to it; it has a fluidity that makes all three timelines flow as if they were always meant to be told in this non-linear style. He brilliantly combines his three timelines with real WW2 footage. This adds a depth and pace to the storytelling while giving a feeling of rising tension throughout.
The opening is extremely simple but effective, with Turing (in 1951) explaining his 'ground-rules' to a detective interrogating him. With the opening line of the film 'Are you paying attention?', there is very quickly an apparent lack of ability not to. There are a number of standout scenes in this film and some, unexpectedly, were to a very high comedic standard; one such scene is a conversation between the code breaking team in Bletchley with regards to Winston Churchill and the order of rank amongst the group, the bickering between them is so intelligent and surprisingly lighthearted it is near impossible to try and contain a smile. Other scenes are so heartbreaking that it gets very hard to hold back the tears; one scene where Turing is reflecting on the price he is willing to pay just to keep his technology by his side tugs at the old heart strings.
The first and foremost positive in this film is Benedict Cumberbatch; his portrayal of Alan Turing is stunning and not just for the accuracy with which he conveys the character. The Turing Cumberbatch has brought to the screen is a complex, layered, humorous, flawed, naive but undeniably intelligent man who has the weight of a country on his shoulders. He is also reluctant to allow others to support him, while obviously craving true companionship as well due to his difficult past. Cumberbatch combines all these layers beautifully into a living breathing character that you not only relate to but fully support, despite all of his 'quirks'. Very few actors have the ability to actually convince you that they are the character they are portraying, and Cumberbatch has this down to an artform with this film. The Academy will have to take notice of this absolute powerhouse performance.
Another more surprising revelation is Keira Knightley's performance as Joan Clarke. Knightley's career has been a bit of a mixed bag, with some outstanding outings and some very disappointing ones, but here she brings out the performance of her career thus far. Clarke is another greatly layered character with motivations and desires, while also being afraid of the responsibility she has been given with breaking Enigma. Knightley plays Clarke with an elegant subtlety and a genuine heart that few characters have allowed her to do before. Her chemistry with Cumberbatch is undeniable and she shines through the cast alongside him.
Speaking of the cast, the supporting roles have been filled perfectly with an outstandingly diverse array of personalities. Mark Strong and Charles Dance steal plenty of scenes with the sarcastic and authoritative roles of Maj. Gen. Stewart Menzies and Cdr. Alistair Denniston respectively. The code breaking team were all brilliantly chosen also, though some of their characters did seem a little under-utilised in terms of character. Matthew Goode, playing Hugh Alexander (Turing second-in-command), is another excellent performance and is given plenty of time to show multiple facets of Hugh's personality, both good and bad. A couple of emotional scenes involving the code breaking team are an expert example of subtlety; we are not given much time to actually learn about some characters, but we are left purely to revel in the powerful acting of everyone involved as war time problems and tensions begin to infiltrate the group. While not all of the cast are best represented in terms of layering, the whole collective of actors have a real sense of camaraderie and support for each other. While the characters themselves are not all fans of each other, the chemistry between the actors is so noticeable that it makes a number of very watchable individuals into an even more enjoyable ensemble.
The biggest surprise of the whole film for me was the soundtrack. This is easily one of the best soundtracks I have heard in a very long time. Alexandre Desplat has completely outdone himself with a beautiful, subtle and most importantly, a memorable score. With leitmotifs by the dozen he gives us gorgeous melodies we will be humming for hours after watching. I would not be remotely surprised if his seventh Best Score oscar nomination were in sight, and I would also not be shocked if this were his first winner.
Overall this is a brilliantly refreshing take on the World War 2 period film; an intelligent character drama that gives us laughs, shocks, tears and a lot to reflect on upon leaving the cinema. The story balances its non-linear structure with multiple plot threads beautifully, conveyed through an excellent cast headed by the incredible performance of Benedict Cumberbatch, along with a career highlight for Keira Knightley. With a stunning soundtrack, smooth direction and so much heart, this film should get Oscar nominations by the bucketload. A definite must-watch!
The Imitation Game film tells the story of Alan Turing (portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch), a British mathematician who is now infamously responsible for breaking the German 'Enigma' codes in the 1940's. This film focuses entirely on the characters and the secrets kept hidden from the world during this horrific time.
The film elegantly connects the story with three important stages in Turing's life; his difficult school years, his time breaking Enigma at the 'Government Code and Cyphering School' in Bletchley Park and a police investigation into his personal life in 1951. Tyldum's direction, while not hugely original in terms of cinematography, has a beautiful grace and style to it; it has a fluidity that makes all three timelines flow as if they were always meant to be told in this non-linear style. He brilliantly combines his three timelines with real WW2 footage. This adds a depth and pace to the storytelling while giving a feeling of rising tension throughout.
The opening is extremely simple but effective, with Turing (in 1951) explaining his 'ground-rules' to a detective interrogating him. With the opening line of the film 'Are you paying attention?', there is very quickly an apparent lack of ability not to. There are a number of standout scenes in this film and some, unexpectedly, were to a very high comedic standard; one such scene is a conversation between the code breaking team in Bletchley with regards to Winston Churchill and the order of rank amongst the group, the bickering between them is so intelligent and surprisingly lighthearted it is near impossible to try and contain a smile. Other scenes are so heartbreaking that it gets very hard to hold back the tears; one scene where Turing is reflecting on the price he is willing to pay just to keep his technology by his side tugs at the old heart strings.
The first and foremost positive in this film is Benedict Cumberbatch; his portrayal of Alan Turing is stunning and not just for the accuracy with which he conveys the character. The Turing Cumberbatch has brought to the screen is a complex, layered, humorous, flawed, naive but undeniably intelligent man who has the weight of a country on his shoulders. He is also reluctant to allow others to support him, while obviously craving true companionship as well due to his difficult past. Cumberbatch combines all these layers beautifully into a living breathing character that you not only relate to but fully support, despite all of his 'quirks'. Very few actors have the ability to actually convince you that they are the character they are portraying, and Cumberbatch has this down to an artform with this film. The Academy will have to take notice of this absolute powerhouse performance.
Another more surprising revelation is Keira Knightley's performance as Joan Clarke. Knightley's career has been a bit of a mixed bag, with some outstanding outings and some very disappointing ones, but here she brings out the performance of her career thus far. Clarke is another greatly layered character with motivations and desires, while also being afraid of the responsibility she has been given with breaking Enigma. Knightley plays Clarke with an elegant subtlety and a genuine heart that few characters have allowed her to do before. Her chemistry with Cumberbatch is undeniable and she shines through the cast alongside him.
Speaking of the cast, the supporting roles have been filled perfectly with an outstandingly diverse array of personalities. Mark Strong and Charles Dance steal plenty of scenes with the sarcastic and authoritative roles of Maj. Gen. Stewart Menzies and Cdr. Alistair Denniston respectively. The code breaking team were all brilliantly chosen also, though some of their characters did seem a little under-utilised in terms of character. Matthew Goode, playing Hugh Alexander (Turing second-in-command), is another excellent performance and is given plenty of time to show multiple facets of Hugh's personality, both good and bad. A couple of emotional scenes involving the code breaking team are an expert example of subtlety; we are not given much time to actually learn about some characters, but we are left purely to revel in the powerful acting of everyone involved as war time problems and tensions begin to infiltrate the group. While not all of the cast are best represented in terms of layering, the whole collective of actors have a real sense of camaraderie and support for each other. While the characters themselves are not all fans of each other, the chemistry between the actors is so noticeable that it makes a number of very watchable individuals into an even more enjoyable ensemble.
The biggest surprise of the whole film for me was the soundtrack. This is easily one of the best soundtracks I have heard in a very long time. Alexandre Desplat has completely outdone himself with a beautiful, subtle and most importantly, a memorable score. With leitmotifs by the dozen he gives us gorgeous melodies we will be humming for hours after watching. I would not be remotely surprised if his seventh Best Score oscar nomination were in sight, and I would also not be shocked if this were his first winner.
Overall this is a brilliantly refreshing take on the World War 2 period film; an intelligent character drama that gives us laughs, shocks, tears and a lot to reflect on upon leaving the cinema. The story balances its non-linear structure with multiple plot threads beautifully, conveyed through an excellent cast headed by the incredible performance of Benedict Cumberbatch, along with a career highlight for Keira Knightley. With a stunning soundtrack, smooth direction and so much heart, this film should get Oscar nominations by the bucketload. A definite must-watch!