The historical drama about an unsung hero is hardly a new trope in filmmaking or entertainment in general. Its basic style and structure dates back to ancient mythologies and probably beyond. While the story structures have remained largely unaltered, one thing cinema can take credit for is revolutionizing the “behind the scenes” story. This medium lends itself particularly well toward recreating and dramatizing the lives of those who may otherwise have been overlooked.
A particularly riveting historical drama released this past December is The Imitation Game, directed by Morten Tyldum (Headhunters). Released to much critical praise, as well as a smattering of historical and social controversy, The Imitation Game was in the limelight rather recently as one of several Oscar hopefuls. Despite ultimately being passed over for Best Picture in favor of Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Tyldum’s film packs a heavy emotional punch and is well worthy of the praise it has received.
The film tells the story of mathematician Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), detailing the events of his life from his childhood until his death, with particular focus on his work throughout World War II. As the war rages, Turing and his team of cryptographers work to decrypt the Enigma Machine, the system by which the German Nazi military sends out coded messages to its troops.
This difficult yet vital task is beset with a variety of issues ranging from perceived incompetence of the cryptographers to political espionage and even to Turing’s own homosexuality (which, if revealed, would put both himself and the entire project in dire jeopardy). As the Nazis continue their war path, the pressure mounts for Turing as he struggles to complete one of the most vital mechanical creations of WWII.
The Imitation Game is an emotional film — extremely so, in fact. Despite being set in wartime, much of its drama and weight is focused internally, dealing with emotional and personal issues, rather than the physical ramifications. In terms of storytelling, the closest comparison to The Imitation Game is 2010’s The King’s Speech. The key difference between the two films is that, while The King’s Speech focused equally on the protagonist’s struggles and his relationship with the secondary protagonist, The Imitation Game’s focus is much more singular, revolving primarily around Turing alone.
Given this fact, it is extremely fortuitous that Turing is portrayed so excellently. When making a character drama of this nature, it is extremely easy to fall into very easy characterization traps. Despite investing so many resources into a character’s portrayal, it is easy for a film to portray characters too harshly or too sympathetically.
Particularly in historical dramas, portraying any one character favorably or unfavorably runs the risk of compromising the film’s legitimacy. One of The Imitation Game’s greatest strengths, however, is that Turing’s character does not fall prey to these traps. Aided in no small part by Benedict Cumberbatch’s fabulous performance, Turing is a character of almost fascinating ambiguity. He comes across as dedicated and hardworking but also flighty and selfish. He is sympathetic and loving, but is also cold, reactionary and judgmental. In short, Cumberbatch’s Turing is no “one thing,” but rather extremely multifaceted. As the film draws on, audiences will easily be able to understand the character of Turing.
The rest of the cast, unfortunately, is not so fortunate in this regard. While Keira Knightley gives a passable performance as Joan Clarke, the lone female pseudo-member of Turing’s team, the character is sadly underutilized throughout the film. This is unfortunate considering that her role within the story is of vital importance from a dramatic standpoint. It doesn’t help that she is continually outshone by Cumberbatch in nearly every scene they have together. Other characters, most notably Commander Dennison (Charles Dance) come off as frightfully one-dimensional. It’s honestly astounding at points that the same writer who so brilliantly envisions Turing is equally responsible for such a one-note character.
Another issue that particularly plagues films of this nature is historical accuracy. Often, for the sake of creating an entertaining film, certain elements of history are altered to add dramatic effect. Tyldum’s film does take several artistic liberties. There are a few historical details that are incorrect, or misrepresented (including the date of Churchill’s installment as Prime Minister). Furthermore, several events which never actually historically took place are inserted into the film to add dramatic effect. The third act of this film in particular has a nasty habit of inventing fake scenarios for the sake of stirring up drama. While this may be a deal-breaker for some, these instances hardly break the film largely because of their consistency with the film’s storytelling and overall tone. It is important to remember that the film is an adaptation of Turing’s life, rather than an encyclopedic retelling.
The Imitation Game is a heartfelt work shedding light on an oft overlooked World War II story. Despite several issues regarding accuracy and characterization, the film succeeds precisely where it should: it connects the audience with the life of Turing. While perhaps limiting, The Imitation Game brings this character to life more fully than most films in recent memory. If viewers have the opportunity, it’s definitely worth a watch.
Overall rating: 4/5
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