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The Imitation Game - Movie Review

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5 stars

Hyperbole in this century is rampant. Every second nitwit is a hero; the latest doohickie will ‘change the world’. Drives this reviewer nuts. So when I say that this film undoes a great injustice and sheds light on a man who did, in fact, change the world, you better believe me.

Ever heard of a man called Alan Turin? Me either. His genius gave birth to AI, and to the computer. That alone changed the world. But the circumstances in which Turin would eventually set to work on a machine he dubbed ‘Christopher’, also have great consequence in our shared history. This man, make no mistake, was a bona fide hero.

Telling the story of the most important secret mission of World War 2, The Imitation Game follows oddball mathematician Turin as he, among other brilliant minds in Britain, are recruited by the military to break the Nazi code Enigma. Finding the contemporary methods statistically impossible, Turin audaciously set out to create a machine that could identify Enigma’s secrets. So secret was this mission that the effectiveness of his successes, and the time and lives spared because of it, were not known for another 50 years.

Cumberbatch plays a grating, socially inept man, who has it easier with his machine, than with other people. His abrupt persona is perfectly blended with social obliviousness, many times to great humour and endearment. His supporting cast, including Knightley and Dance, strengthen the tale, and make you truly feel for this man.

Turin’s life working for MI6 saved two years beating the Nazis and 14 million lives, by historians’ estimates. He achieved these feats under great pressure, both from his work and his personal life, and he, and the other members of his team, faded into history, unsung for their remarkable work. To suspend giving the whole damn movie away, all I will say is the man’s end and how it came about is the single most tragic and offensive thing I have ever heard. Nobody knew who he was and what he had done. If they did, I don’t think even the opinions of the time would have swayed anyone to touch him.

Alan Turin’s story is beautifully told. This film is impeccably acted, shot, directed, and scored. It is at times jovial and funny, and others it brings home the enormity of what these filmmakers set out to do. In this reviewer’s opinion, they have done this man justice. I had no idea what Alan Turin was or did. I thank these filmmakers for telling me.

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[tab title="Film Details"]

The Imitation Game - Movie Review

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some sexual references, mature thematic material and historical smoking
Runtime:
114 mins
Director
: Morten Tyldum
Writer:
Graham Moore
Cast:
Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode
Genre
: Biography | Drama
Tagline:
Behind every code is an enigma.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Do you know why people like violence? It is because it feels good. Humans find violence deeply satisfying. But remove the satisfaction, and the act becomes... hollow."
Distributor:
The Weinstein Company
Official Site: http://theimitationgamemovie.com/
Release Date:
December 25, 2014
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
March 31, 2015
Synopsis: In The Imitation Game, Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Alan Turing, the genius British mathematician, logician, cryptologist and computer scientist who led the charge to crack the German Enigma Code that helped the Allies win WWII. Turing went on to assist with the development of computers at the University of Manchester after the war, but was prosecuted by the UK government in 1952 for homosexual acts which the country deemed illegal.

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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]

The Imitation Game - Movie Review

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Available on Blu-ray - March 31, 2015
Screen Formats: 2.40:1
Subtitles
: English SDH, Spanish
Audio:
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
Discs: 50GB Blu-ray Disc; Single disc (1 BD); UV digital copy; Digital copy
Region Encoding: A

This is a very spiffy looking transfer. In fact, the MPEG-4 AVC encode is flawless. Contrast is eye popping, darks inky, skin tones beautiful and period. It’s got a time travelling aura about it with its authenticity. There is a slight grain to aid in that intention, but it isn’t intrusive. Sound is on par, with a subtle but effective DTS-HD 5.1 mix. Dialogue is crisp and provides a strong centre to cascading music and sound effects. Special Features are a decent set of three featurettes, going into more detail about Turin and also the production of the film. This UK set came with a slip case that’s identical to the case inside.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • Feature-length audio Commentary with director Morten Tyldum and Screenwriter Graham Moore

Special Features:

  • The Making of The Imitation Game (1080p, 22:44)
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Q&A Highlights

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