The Imitation Game (English)
Director: Morten Tyldum
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Charles Dance
This has been the week of biopics at the movies. There is The Theory of Everything based on the life of physicist Stephen Hawking and The Imitation Game which tells the story of Alan Turing, considered the father of computer science.
The Imitation Game , which marks the English language debut of Norwegian director Morten Tyldum, is loosely based on Andrew Hodges’ biography, Alan Turing: The Enigma . There is enough drama in Turing’s story — an unhappy childhood in boarding school, his pioneering work during World War II in cracking the German’s Enigma code and his post war arrest for gross indecency for homosexuality.
The Imitation Game tells an engrossing and touching story of a man who was a victim and winner of the times. The period details are fascinating and the acting first class. Benedict Cumberbatch as Turing is sexy brainy as expected. In the introduction scene when the police come to his house to investigate a robbery, Cumberbatch as Turing is on the floor, sweeping up crystals of cyanide. When he tells off the “Bobbies,” you feel it is a continuation of his Sherlock persona telling off Lestrade and his minions. Even in his introduction to his colleagues at Hut 8 in Bletchley Park, you feel it is Sherlock talking as Turing. However, Cumberbatch gets under his character’s skin, turning in a virtuoso performance, etching out Turing’s loneliness, confusion, paranoia and ultimate breakdown in exquisite detail. The Academy Award nomination is well deserved.
Casting Keira Knightley as Joan Clarke, Turing’s colleague, friend and one-time fiancée was cause of some disquiet with Hodges saying more was made of the relationship than there actually was and Turing’s niece saying the real life Joan was “rather plain.” One is, however, willing to allow the makers artistic licence as the movie is so gripping and touching. The only thing remaining is to see contra-casting vis-à-vis Cumberbatch.
MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER
