The Imitation Game

Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch shines in the role of Alan Turing, the obsessive genius who cracked the Nazi Enigma code during WWII, in director Morten Tyldum's Best Picture-nominated film. As the Luftwaffe bombed London and German U-boats were sinking ships, brilliant but troubled Turing was recruited to join five other mathematicians at the undercover facility of Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire to try to crack the Nazis' complex encrypted code, which defied decryption by changing daily. Awkwardly antisocial, Turing's blunt, condescending rudeness immediately alienates Commander Denniston (Charles Dance), as well as his fellow colleagues (Matthew Goode, Allen Leech, and Matthew Beard). Nevertheless, Turing builds a digital “thinking” device—an artificial intelligence machine that is obviously an early computer—with the help of Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley), the only woman judged bright enough to even associate with the code breakers. All of this leads to a human-life-sacrificing conundrum, as outlined by MI6's shadowy Maj. Gen. Menzies (Mark Strong): even if broken, Enigma must remain top-secret because if the Allies thwart too many German attacks, the enemy will become suspicious. Based on Andrew Hodges's 1983 biography, Alan Turing: The Enigma, Oscar-winning screenwriter Graham Moore begins the character study in 1951, when Turing was charged with “gross indecency,”—a British euphemism for homosexuality—before flashing back to show how Turing was bullied during his formative years, built a friendship with a chum who introduced him to cryptograms, and eventually worked on the Enigma device. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Morten Tyldum and screenwriter Graham Moore, a “making-of” featurette (24 min.), and deleted scenes (2 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are “Q&A Highlights” with cast and crew (30 min.), and a digital copy of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for one of 2014's best films.] (S. Granger)