The Imitation Game

For this movie to be perfect, it would have to be less literal and with less Hollywood-like straightforward emotions (A Beautiful Mind), but with more British nobility and reason (Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy). If the main character were black, it would be the most formulaic movie with Academy Award ambitions ever made. Benedict Cumberbatch is, however, excellent. (17/02/2015)

A beautiful and properly crafted depiction of one rather fundamental event that took place in the middle of Britain during the desolate period of World War II. Practically everything is great about it... despite the fact that encryption and Enigma have never appeared in any major interesting films that would be worth remembering and would not be boring. But along came Morten Tyldum and changed everything, along with the absolutely amazing Benedict Cumberbatch, who once again proved how great an actor he is and that Britain should consider him its national treasure. In any case, Keira Knightley is also unusually beautiful here, and I was also pleased with Charles Dance, who definitely deserves more roles in big films in his old age. Anyway, I would divide the film itself into two parts. That is, before the deciphering and after it, as before the deciphering, the suspense is on a completely different level. In terms of duration, the second part is a bit shorter. On the other hand, it is much more intense and at that moment the real emotions come. At that moment, I also realize that Alexandre Desplat’s soundtrack is fantastic. If there are any flaws in this movie then I didn’t notice them. I’d wish for Alan to meet a better end, but unfortunately that’s life for you. Especially at those times… (06/02/2015)

Valkyrie, but for the ladies. A less dramatic and slower film, yet still comprehensible than A Beautiful Mind, for instance. Benedict Cumberbatch excels and the is script's playful, precise, and interesting. It only becomes pathetic and descends into sentimentality when Keira Knightley starts flirting. (12/02/2015)

A drama tailor made for academics not intended to outrage or offend, but simply to tell us in the riveting story about part of the revealed mosaic of conspiracy that stood behind the victory of the Allies in the Second World War. Alan Turing is something like an idol in my field of study and maybe because I know a little more than made it into the movie, I can’t give it the highest rating. Even though this is a great and riveting picture. The finale is rather less interesting because it doesn’t show this star’s fall in full and reduces it to text explanations (what happened to Snow White and the cyanide apple?), it provokes some sad head shaking over the treatment of homosexuals in post-war Old England. I like the way the director Morten Tyldum, who I haven’t come across before, offers a slightly more in-depth insight into this lonely eccentric who only the wonderfully cute Keira Knightley could civilize. Cumberbatch is great, again in a slightly differently, giving a pleasant performance of an unpleasant... heh Dr. Spock of last century. We barely learn anything about the code and how it all worked. I suppose that’s what Wikipedia is for. That bothered me a bit. But as a drama about a strange person, The Imitation Game works wonderfully, due also to Desplat’s wonderful music (two nominations this year for the golden baldy speaks for itself). (16/01/2015)

Turing's Pure Soul that pays special attention to the (least) interesting aspects of his destinies (and when it pays special attention it is done in the style of cliché advertising like "when he goes, we also go" or "hurray" etc.) to sideline the most important and disproportionately interesting events which is strange. As a result, Cumberbatch's performance is particularly interesting. Not so much the performance itself (though this too) as in the context of his crucial roles, when after having performed characters of Hawking, Sherlock and Assange, this is already the fourth time when he plays similar role on paper, the archetype of the role of a "odd duck" genius, without in any way (or just a gesture) repeat the same performance over and over again. (30/01/2015)