The Imitation Game

*Please remember to VOTE for your favorite movies of the year HERE! The results will be published in the upcoming Rath Awards!*

It's always a bit of an odd thing, seeing a movie that you know will be the final one of the year. My holiday season was fairly busy (as I'm sure it was for most of you), and there truly wasn't anything that really grabbed my attention out of the new, wide releases. Unbroken seems like a good story told in a boring way, and I've heard some say that it's watered down compared to the book, Into the Woods seemed fun but not like something that would win any Rath Awards, and Annie and Night at the Museum seemed "bleh" to me, as their reviews would indicate.

The Imitation Game however, has had my attention for quite some time now. Based on some recent reviews by friends, and others that I saw on a few Facebook pages I follow, it really seemed like, if I was going to fit in one more film this year, that it needed to be this one. In Denver, it has expanded significantly to other screens, so I decided to make it my priority this weekend, along with getting the Rath Awards ready to go.

I'm happy with my decision as out of all the films I listed, it seems like The Imitation Game was the best way I could have spent some of my final time and money during 2014. It tells a highly interesting story that I'm sure many did not know about and it does a good job at capturing heart, suspense, and the weight of the situation...something it seemed that this holiday's other World War II film, Unbroken, had a hard time accomplishing.

"I swear! I didn't leak Force Awakens plot details! I'm not
in the film!"

"Are you sure you should be decrypting Star
Wars secrets?"
"I've told you! I'm not in the movie!"

The first thing that should be stated about The Imitation Game is just how interesting of a film it is and additionally, how well the screenplay portrays it. Alan Turing was the mathematician in Britain during the time and he was tasked, along with a team, to break Enigma, the Nazi code used to communicate during the war. The movie appropriately sets up the severity of breaking the code as an MI6 agents comments that 3 soldiers have died, just during a simple conversation. The film is an expertly woven story that gives us insight to Turing's character as much as it is about solving Enigma. If you're a history buff, it will be absolutely fascinating to you, and to a general audience, it's still some pretty amazing stuff. My main issue with the story as a whole is the "subplot" of a Russian spy in the midst of Turing's team. I found some logical gaps with it, and ultimately it didn't really pan out to much of anything useful to the overarching plot as a whole. Additionally, the film loses a bit of steam once the war ends and, while it tells the more painful side of Turing's life, I'm not sure if the film really needed to include it.

"Or is J.J. hiding me as the villain again?"
*laughs maniacally*

As the film really ends up being about Turing, it's a good thing that the film was able to acquire Benedict Cumberbatch as he delivers a solid performance that is one of the best of his career. Turing has several quirks and ticks that Cumberbatch plays with along the way, but even more than that he truly gives Turing a heart, as assisted by flashbacks to his childhood. It's no secret that Cumberbatch can lead a film by now and The Imitation Game is further proof as to why he is a major leading actor in Hollywood. The rest of the cast does strongly, including Kiera Knightly as a fellow code decipherer and Mark Strong as a MI6 executive.

It's also a film that you come out of realizing that it was just really well made all around. The script is tight and well-written, the editing and pacing are appropriate most of the time, the cinematography is about as good as you can get for a historical drama, and the original score ranges from pretty good to amazing. It's a film that I absorbed quite a bit on my first viewing, so I'm not sure I would need to see it again, but as a single view, it was outstanding.

As the last film I will see in 2014, The Imitation Game allowed me to go out on a high note with its incredibly interesting and unknown story, and its solid craftsmanship all the way around. Here's to a great 2014 at the movies and I'm sure we are all looking forward to at least a few films in 2015. Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year everyone!

CONS:

• A subplot based around a Russian spy doesn't really play out and seemed a bit unnecessary
• The film loses focus (rarely) on whether it is a biopic about Turing or a World War II drama
• As heart-wrenching as the ending of the film is detailing Turing's time after the war, I'm not sure it was necessary to include...hence the point above
• At times the original score is incredibly average...

PROS:

• Probably one of the more interesting stories told at the movies this year. The details behind what Turing and his team did are incredible. No other way to put it
• Well made all the way around. Script, cinematography, screenplay...just a solid film
• Cumberbatch's performance is fantastic and his leadership of the film is strong
• Good performances by everyone else
• But at times the original score is amazing and stirring

Rath's Review Score: 8.5/10