The Imitation Game is a story that deserves to be told. Alan Turing arguably changed the course of WWII, and thus
shaped our world today. He was one of the major figures in the creation of computation. Yet despite all his achievements, the British government prosecuted him for being gay and chemically castrated him. This story is an epic—both
triumphant and tragic. Alan Turing deserves to be framed as a classic hero, and that’s what director Morten Tyldum
achieves. The film has the feeling of a classical Hollywood blockbuster, with a gorgeous score and the employment of voiceover as Turing tells the policeman his story. The editing keeps with traditional Hollywood style, and the structure of the narrative is understandable and straightforward. I saw this movie right after I saw Wild and The Grand Budapest Hotel, more modern films stylistically, which made me appreciate The Imitation Game’s format more. There’s something timeless about it, the music swelling as the heroes of the story cheer. The film just wouldn’t be as impactful if it was mostly composed of long shots and silent pauses.
The script is well paced and compelling, and the cinematography is beautiful. Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal was nuanced and unique compared to his performance in other films. His most famous role, Sherlock Holmes, shares many characteristics with Turing, yet he manages to make the parts different. Though they both are snobby jerks, they are noticeably different. Cumberbatch’s most powerful moments are in the last few minutes of the film. He has very few lines yet properly conveys the betrayal that he—and the audience—are feeling. The ending was also perfectly timed, coming abruptly so that the viewer is left feeling the injustice that Turing faced at the hands of the British government. The supporting cast was also great: Mark Strong played up just enough of the MI6 factor, and Charles Dance managed to be both funny and intimidating within the same scene. However, I thought Keira Knightly was miscast. The story needed her character to be more confident in her abilities than Knightly played her. I also would have liked to see more of her relationship with Turing, which didn’t seem fully fleshed when she visits him at the end.
The Imitation Game is a story inspired by Turing’s life. It is not an actual account of historical events. Though the film properly pays homage to Turing’s achievements, the story it tells isn’t entirely true. A quick Google search reveals that the film fabricates many aspects of its plot. Some of the most basic aspects of the story are false, such as calling the (spoiler here) enigma-breaking machine Christopher. Really it was called Victory. Furthermore, the film characterizes Turing as a cold, friendless snob, when according to many biographies he was said to have plenty of friends and a sense of humor. I left the theater feeling slightly cheated into believing a false story. But in a vacuum, it is an exciting and moving film, and all in all gives Turing the recognition he deserves.