Movie: The Imitation Game

The Imitation Game: the story of Alan Turing, the individual who broke the Nazi Enigma code and arguably one of the primary individuals responsible for the invention of computers.  Turing was a mathematician.  During the 1930s, he wrote articles about what he called the “universal machine.”  It was his writings that brought him to the attention of MI-6 who employed him to break the Nazi military communication code.  Turing, played brilliantly by Benedict Cumberbatch, uses his employment at Bletchley Park to build a computer.  His computer, coupled with human insight, breaks the German code.  In 2001, a film called Enigma told the basic code breaking story.  The Imitation Game’s focus is on Turing.  The film’s structure is somewhat awkward.  The opening scene takes place after WWII at what appears to be a break-in at Turing’s residence.  As the movie unfolds, there are flashbacks to Turing as a school boy then flash-forwards to the events which lead to Turing’s arrest and conviction in 1952 for being a homosexual.  Unlike Engima, this script by Graham Moore, which is based on the biography by Andrew Hodges, is for the most  part factually accurate.  For me to disclose the “Hollywood” moment would not be appropriate.  The primary reason Turing is not better known is because the British intelligence service kept Turing’s code breaking work a secret for approximately 50 years after the end of WWII.  This 114 minute film is directed by Morten Tyldum, a Norwegian making his English language film debut.  The supporting cast, particularly Keira Knightley as Joan Clarke, another brilliant mathematician, is excellent.  The flashbacks offer explanations as to Turing’s behavior, and Alex Lawther as the young Turing is quite good.  Turing had a form of autism which prevented him from understanding the figurative meaning of words and, as such, sarcasm and most jokes failed to register with him.  Turing’s difficulties interacting with people as an adult were shown in his dealings with his direct superior, Commander Denniston (Charles Dance).  There are some light, humorous moments in the film, particularly when it creatively displays the effects of Turing’s literalism, such as the scene in which a co-worker tells Turing that his fellow workers are going to lunch.  Sometimes you just know a film is going to be enjoyable from the preview.  This is one of those films.  The key is Cumberbatch’s performance.  Turing is a complex person trying to solve what may have been unsolvable without the aid of the computer he invented.  I doubt that Turing was likeable in real life but he is on screen.  This film is on my 2014 Ten Best list.