Benedict Cumberbatch works to crack the code in this drama based on the true WWII story.
The Imitation Game – Some films aim so hard to tell a true story – one that is compelling and fascinating by nature – but cling to a formula so much that the final result lacks the integrity and intrigue of the fact-based events. Oscar-baity or clichéd, some might call them, and it’s a shame they aren’t much of an anomaly this time of year. The Imitation Game, despite a solid cast and interesting subject matter, is such a film that oozes promise rather than power. Benedict Cumberbatch (TV’s Sherlock) stars as Alan Turing, a phenomenal mathematician and academic who is hired by British Intelligence to help decipher the Nazi’s Enigma code during World War II. Along with his fellow code-breakers (Matthew Goode, Keira Knightley), he was a celebrated hero during the Chuchill era – until his conviction for homosexuality, a criminal offense in the early 50’s. It’s a thrilling story tinged with tragedy, a tone that a film like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy perfected with intrigue, intensity, and heartbreak. The Imitation Game certainly strives to convey that sensibility, but works too hard to imitate (yes) rather than muster up a soulful connection to its audience. Director Morten Tyldum, director of the slick Scandinavian Headhunters, has made a gorgeous and sleek-looking film that has considerable style and boasts solid production values. However, the film’s pace is very sporadic – it’s either repetitive and sluggish, or temporally frenetic. It also relies too heavily on flashbacks and misplaces them in such a way that obstructs the film’s flow and energy. It’s disappointing, given the potential for the story – in the hands of a different filmmaker, this material could have been handled with more subtlety and ambiguity. Tyldum’s film is at times clunky and overly sentimental, and neglects integrity in favor of predictability. Cumberbatch’s lead performance is also ineffective – he never quite finds the soul and humanity in Turing beyond the mannerisms and vocal control. He digs to convey his social isolation and mathematical brilliance, but not enough to truly communicate his restlessness, passion, fear, and heartbreak. Knightley and Goode give more stunning performances, as they are the most compelling screen presences in the film with their believable hesitation with Turing and witty timing. The Imitation Game is focused for a film, but it can’t seem to combine the provided ingredients into something cohesive, resonant, or enlightening. It’s a gorgeous and well-oiled machine, but the wheels simply aren’t turning.
Here’s the trailer:
Cinemaniac 