Movie Review: The Imitation Game…well played

A rather humble looking title for a movie that celebrates a humongous yet sadly little known achievement. This ‘Well Played’ is not so much for the movie but its for the life of the person it takes us through. Yes, well played Sir Alan Turing (I don’t care if he wasn’t really  knighted, what he did provided every reason for him to be. In fact, the very device I am typing..but I get ahead of myself…). Well Played, indeed.

The question is not so much whether you should go for this movie since this is about the life and achievements of a genius everyone ought to know about but more, whether you should go for the movie for how the central character has been portrayed, the performances, the story development, the visuals and the answer in each of those departments is also a resounding yes.

While a biopic, there is a sense of intrigue built right from the opening scene, in fact the opening narrative itself –  which I thought was very smartly done. The movie scarcely loses your interest, though the constant flitting between past and present can be a little disconcerting. Some scenes, in particular could’ve been done with a better context and presentation, but these are minor niggles in what is otherwise a remarkable story that is extremely well told.

Benedict Cumberbatch is in familiar territory with the British accent and the reclusive character he plays but he does so with an ease few others would exhibit. What works in his favor is also that while a complex character, the protagonist scarcely displays more than the minimal range of emotions – not unlike his Sherlock avatar. Keira Knightley is also in her comfort zone with a character that doesn’t have a lot of complexity either but goes further to bring a natural warmth to her character. All others perform their side roles ably well.

However, more than the performances, it’s the story itself that is the real hero in this offering. A story of a highly significant achievement, the tremendous burden it bore and the treatment of its protagonist - one that by the end will have moved you enough to moisten your eyes or maybe even scream and shout. From a simple story of the life and times of Sir Alan Turing, emerges what ought to be known and more importantly, highly respected.

Thank you for making The Imitation Game and making this highly deserving story available to one and all. Now you need to do yourself a favour and go watch it. Oh, and a word to the wise..don’t watch the trailer…it gives away practically everything