The Imitation Game★★★★1/2
Unknown war hero
Father of the computer
Want to hug Turing
During World War II, mathematician Alan Turing tries to crack the enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians.
WARNING: Possible spoilers ahead.
Word to the wise: Do not go see this movie unless you want to be seriously depressed for days. Although this movie isn't terribly sad until the end, having to think about how absolutely crappy Alan Turing was treated, and what that treatment led to, and the fact that he wasn't "pardoned" until 2013—and the fact that he had to be pardoned AT ALL—it makes me sad and angry all over again thinking about it now.
That said, this movie is beautiful. It's less about the maths than I was expecting, and more about Turing's life. Had we learned more about his project, and the math/science behind the code-breaking machine, it would have been equally interesting, but it would have been a different movie.
Benedict Cumberbatch, unsurprisingly, acts the crap out of the Turing role. He's awkward and uncomfortable and heartbreaking. I both wanted to punch him for his rudeness and hug him for his innocence. The rest of the cast, including Matthew Goode, Kiera Knightley and Allen Leech as members of the codebreaking team, made for an excellent supporting cast. Mark Strong was particularly entertaining as MI6 agent Stewart Menzies, too. (But that's such an unfortunate surname.)
I think this is such an important movie, as it acts as an introduction to this amazing man and his unparalleled contributions to early computer science/engineering. It also has an important secondary message—the fact that this amazing man was so hindered and abused by the system in which he lived—but it's not heavy handed. Just makes you think.
Check it out:
I loved this movie!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't planned on seeing this movie, but now I might have to see it.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing this movie...beautiful is how I want to describe it. Totally worth the sadness. I'm patiently awaiting the Blu-Ray release, because it's going to be a must have.
ReplyDeleteKnowing about Turings life, I am actually pretty happy that's the direction they decided to take it! Focusing on the maths would definitely have been interesting as well, but I think a lot of people don't really realize all that happened to Alan Turing, and it's good to see that focused on, because it is truly awful. Can't wait to see it!
ReplyDeleteRight? I had hopes that it was going to be good, and it just blew me away. Even if I was terribly depressed afterward.
ReplyDeleteYou should. It's so, so good. Not cheerful, but important.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful is a great word for it. It's heartbreaking, but so worth it.
ReplyDeleteOh, no, I agree. I think it's so much more important to tell about the man first. Later, if someone wants, they could make a much more mathematically/engineeringly accurate movie about the actual process. (Honestly, I think I much prefer this version to that idea, haha.)
ReplyDelete