THE IMITATION GAME
Yesterday evening my sister and I went to watch the really, really amazing new release 'The Imitation Game', which came out in cinemas nationwide yesterday. Because my sister is up here visiting me in Manchester for the weekend, we went to see it up here at a really cute, independent and beautifully retro cinema that's part of The Cornerhouse, which is essentially a creative hub for anyone who is remotely arty farty, and is a real must see if you're ever up in MCR, (plus they have a wicked student discount too).
However awesome old school cinemas are not the point of the post, no matter how awesome they just might be. No, no, the point of this post is Benedict Cumberbatch, who I just luuuuuuuurve (even if he's now engaged) and his new film 'The Imitation Game', which is based on the life story of the inspiring, iconic and wonderful, wonderful man that was Alan Turing. Interestingly both Benedict and Alan have strong links with the University of Manchester, and good ol' Manchester is where part of the movie is set due to Alan's later work involving the computer taking him up north to the university. So as you can probably guess, and rightly so, I was absolutely squirming with excitement when I found out about the Manchester link, because I too go to the uni now, but unlike Benedict or Alan, I've not done anything nearly as amazing with my life, but the film has definitely inspired me to really cease the opportunity I have right now at the uni, and make the absolute most of it. It was also kind of surreal to watch a film whose actions are occurring right in the place where you're actually watching the film too, but that again is another matter entirely...
'The Imitation Game' is directed by Morten Tyldum, and tells of the rather awe-inspiring life of the brilliant logician and cryptologist Alan Turing. The central focus of the film is Alan's incredible work at Bletchely Park in Reading, where he and his team cracked the Enigma Code that the Germans used to communicate during WW2. However in parallel to this we also see segments of Alan's adolescence, which give partial explanation as to why he acted the way he did in adulthood, and furthermore we also see the man Alan becomes post-WW2, where he carries the burdens of not only his youth, but also those from his highly secret, emotionally demanding and undoubtedly crucial work during the war. Focusing on this film as a depiction of Alan Turing's life, I think that this film does so perfectly. There's no doubt that Alan did so many other truly incredible and clever things in his life, such as his younger achievements at Cambridge and later breakthroughs such as with the computer, and the film touches upon these other important milestones within Alan's short but remarkable life, but there's no doubt that his work on the Enigma code is one of the most phenomenal occurrences within not only his life, but of the millions of lives that he saved by doing so. What Alan achieved by tapping into those powerful, electric, spirited channels of logic and intelligence cursing, surging and colliding throughout his almost superhuman mind reportedly shortened WW2 by two years and saved 14 million lives, and amazingly his achievement was kept a government secret for more than fifty years. He was a genuinely magnificent human being who challenged the supposed limitations of man, and showed that they can be pushed much further than one could ever imagine, which is why what preceded his heroic achievements in the war was so devastatingly awful.
As you may or may not know, Alan was homosexual and during his lifetime, the act of indulging in or acting upon this was an illegal offence, and sadly his secret was uncovered post WW2 with Alan having to pay the awful consequences. With his achievements in the war also being kept in the dark, those who persecuted him were completely oblivious as to just what this brilliant man they were so keen on criminalising and punishing, purely for the fact that he loved another man, had done for them and their country. Nobly, such was his devotion to his work that Alan took the frankly horrendous punishment of chemical castration over jail, simply so that he would be able to continue to submerge himself in the work that he had devoted his life to. He died in 1954 aged just 41 from cyanide poisoning, though whether it was a suicide or an accident is still often questioned, however the official cause was eventually stated as suicide. But regardless as to how his life may have ended, there is not a single doubt that Alan Turing is one of the most iconic figures of the last century, and I can't stress to you how much I would love to have been able to sit down with Alan and ask him all about his life, and to really see that energetic, electric, intelligent mind at work.
So moving on now to viewing this film from it's accuracy, portrayal and honouring of Turing, I honestly do think that this film does an absolutely impeccable job, with the highest of praise going to the simply brilliant Benedict Cumberbatch who brings Alan to life so vividly and accurately before your eyes. Even though I adore Benedict, I completely forget it was him I was watching, so intricately perfect was his portrayal of Alan Turing. He captures everything that Alan was both emotionally and physically, and presents to you an eccentric, misunderstood, unique, endearing, kind hearted genius whose humility, modesty and durability are not only highly admirable but also very emotionally touching. His work in this film is a testament to Alan, and even if you don't know who Alan Turing was, I'd recommend seeing this film purely because the combination of Benedict's highly commendable acting skills and the brilliance of this film in telling Alan's story, means you will leave with a new found appreciation and insight into the life of an incredible man.
The supporting cast in the film are equally endearing and fantastic in their roles in telling Turing's story, and the cinematography makes this film a real visual delight on the eyes, but as I previously said, Benedict, like Turing, really is undoubtedly the true star. So to conclude this rather long , gushing post of mine, I really, really, really recommend that you get yourself down to the cinema to watch this film, because you'll be rewarded with not only brilliant acting and story telling, cinematography, but also a film that is honest, emotionally touching, thought provoking, inspiring, and most importantly, a poignant and much deserved tribute to the hero that was Alan Turing.
-THE IMITATION GAME IS IN CINEMAS NATIONWIDE NOW-
'The Imitation Game' is directed by Morten Tyldum, and tells of the rather awe-inspiring life of the brilliant logician and cryptologist Alan Turing. The central focus of the film is Alan's incredible work at Bletchely Park in Reading, where he and his team cracked the Enigma Code that the Germans used to communicate during WW2. However in parallel to this we also see segments of Alan's adolescence, which give partial explanation as to why he acted the way he did in adulthood, and furthermore we also see the man Alan becomes post-WW2, where he carries the burdens of not only his youth, but also those from his highly secret, emotionally demanding and undoubtedly crucial work during the war. Focusing on this film as a depiction of Alan Turing's life, I think that this film does so perfectly. There's no doubt that Alan did so many other truly incredible and clever things in his life, such as his younger achievements at Cambridge and later breakthroughs such as with the computer, and the film touches upon these other important milestones within Alan's short but remarkable life, but there's no doubt that his work on the Enigma code is one of the most phenomenal occurrences within not only his life, but of the millions of lives that he saved by doing so. What Alan achieved by tapping into those powerful, electric, spirited channels of logic and intelligence cursing, surging and colliding throughout his almost superhuman mind reportedly shortened WW2 by two years and saved 14 million lives, and amazingly his achievement was kept a government secret for more than fifty years. He was a genuinely magnificent human being who challenged the supposed limitations of man, and showed that they can be pushed much further than one could ever imagine, which is why what preceded his heroic achievements in the war was so devastatingly awful.
As you may or may not know, Alan was homosexual and during his lifetime, the act of indulging in or acting upon this was an illegal offence, and sadly his secret was uncovered post WW2 with Alan having to pay the awful consequences. With his achievements in the war also being kept in the dark, those who persecuted him were completely oblivious as to just what this brilliant man they were so keen on criminalising and punishing, purely for the fact that he loved another man, had done for them and their country. Nobly, such was his devotion to his work that Alan took the frankly horrendous punishment of chemical castration over jail, simply so that he would be able to continue to submerge himself in the work that he had devoted his life to. He died in 1954 aged just 41 from cyanide poisoning, though whether it was a suicide or an accident is still often questioned, however the official cause was eventually stated as suicide. But regardless as to how his life may have ended, there is not a single doubt that Alan Turing is one of the most iconic figures of the last century, and I can't stress to you how much I would love to have been able to sit down with Alan and ask him all about his life, and to really see that energetic, electric, intelligent mind at work.
So moving on now to viewing this film from it's accuracy, portrayal and honouring of Turing, I honestly do think that this film does an absolutely impeccable job, with the highest of praise going to the simply brilliant Benedict Cumberbatch who brings Alan to life so vividly and accurately before your eyes. Even though I adore Benedict, I completely forget it was him I was watching, so intricately perfect was his portrayal of Alan Turing. He captures everything that Alan was both emotionally and physically, and presents to you an eccentric, misunderstood, unique, endearing, kind hearted genius whose humility, modesty and durability are not only highly admirable but also very emotionally touching. His work in this film is a testament to Alan, and even if you don't know who Alan Turing was, I'd recommend seeing this film purely because the combination of Benedict's highly commendable acting skills and the brilliance of this film in telling Alan's story, means you will leave with a new found appreciation and insight into the life of an incredible man.
The supporting cast in the film are equally endearing and fantastic in their roles in telling Turing's story, and the cinematography makes this film a real visual delight on the eyes, but as I previously said, Benedict, like Turing, really is undoubtedly the true star. So to conclude this rather long , gushing post of mine, I really, really, really recommend that you get yourself down to the cinema to watch this film, because you'll be rewarded with not only brilliant acting and story telling, cinematography, but also a film that is honest, emotionally touching, thought provoking, inspiring, and most importantly, a poignant and much deserved tribute to the hero that was Alan Turing.
-THE IMITATION GAME IS IN CINEMAS NATIONWIDE NOW-
F.Y.I
(this is the cute little cinema where we watched the film!)
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