"The Game of Imitation" is a film (2015), in which the actors deserve the most flattering reviews from critics and viewers. This is a historical drama dedicated to the famous British cryptographer Alan Turing. During the Second World War, he managed to crack the code of a German encryption machine called Enigma. However, in his fate there were many not only ups, but also downs. Turing was prosecuted for homosexuality. The film was directed by Morten Tildum according to the script of Graham Moore. The plot was based on the novel by Andrew Hodges called "Alan Turing:" Enigma ".
Movie making
"The Game of Imitation" - a film (2015), the actors for which were selected very carefully. It is known that initially Leonardo DiCaprio was prepared for the main role. To do this, Warner Brosers acquired the script for more than $ 10 million. However, as a result, DiCaprio refused this role, the script was returned. As a result, the main role was played by the British Benedict Cumberbatch.
The creators did not immediately decide on the director. The candidates of Ron Howard (Apollo 13, Mind Games, Angels and Demons), as well as J. Blakeson (Disappearance of Alice Creed, Fifth Wave) were considered. As a result, we settled on Morten Tildum. This is a Norwegian director who shot the thriller Bounty Hunters. In English-language cinema, this work was his debut.
Filming started in England in September 2013.
The plot of the picture
The film "The Game of Imitation" tells about the difficult fate of the English scientist Alan Turing. Showing several lines of his life. At the very beginning of the tape, unknown robbers penetrate the home of a professor of mathematics. Outside 1951. This draws increased attention to the Turing personality of the local police, as well as the personal detective Knock.
Then the audience is transferred to the 1939th, from where the main narrative is conducted. The painting "The Game of Imitation" tells about the entry of Great Britain into the Second World War. Turing, along with colleagues, is going to the secret residence of Bletchley Park. During the years of confrontation between fascist Germany, the main encryption unit of the kingdom was based in this mansion.
The best minds of the crown are tasked with deciphering the messages sent by the German machine, codenamed Enigma. The Nazis are actively using it to transmit sensitive data.
Turing actually leads this work. In the picture "The Game of Imitation", he concludes that human capabilities are not enough to crack this code. Therefore, he decides to proceed with the creation of another machine that could compete with the Enigma.
Churchill's appeal
The project’s direct manager, Alistair Denniston (director of the UK Government Communications Center), does not support this idea. Then Turing in a letter addresses the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Winston Churchill. So he seeks an audience with the politician. As a result of a short conversation with the legendary British statesman, he gets the appointment to the post of head of secret research and the necessary funding to create a machine, which Alan calls Christopher.
This is an electronic mechanical device. It gets its name in honor of Turing's school friend Christopher Morkom, who died in his youth. Turing needs assistants in his work. But how to find them in a country participating in the world war? Turing comes up with an original solution. He announces a crossword puzzle contest. Its winners become assistant scientists in solving the secret of Enigma. So he finds Joan Clark and John Goode.
Codeword
The film "The Game of Imitation" shows the viewer how difficult it was for British scientists to cope with Enigma. The fact is that at exactly midnight every day the Germans changed the code word. Therefore, the Turing group had only a day to crack the code.
The scientist concludes that even without his help, even his Christopher machine and talented assistants are powerless. At that moment when it seems that the last hopes have disappeared, enlightenment descends on Alan. He realizes that some of the messages contain a weather forecast that repeats periodically. With the help of his employees, Turing is also looking for other clues; the secret of Enigma can be revealed.
New problem
But here a new task appears before the Turing team. It is necessary to act so that the Nazis do not understand that the code is unraveled. For this, Turing decides to apply mathematical statistics in his work. In this way, it is possible to create a sense of randomly detecting clues, often based on the human factor. The Nazis believe that in this way the British military predict their future actions.
There is another problem. Turing discovers that one of his employees is a Soviet spy. This is Scot John Kerncross. It turns out that the British intelligence leadership is aware of Kerncross’s double game, but orders him not to touch, so that the Soviet Union receives the information that is beneficial to the crown.
The film "The Game of Imitation" also describes the difficulties in Turing's personal life. On the one hand, he is being blackmailed by the fact that he is homosexual. At the same time, he has an intricate relationship with his subordinate Joan. The girl threatens to leave the group, her parents make her return home. Then Turing, in order to stop this, is forced to ask for her hand. Maintaining a valuable team member is more important to him than his personal life.
Victory over Nazi Germany
The tape "The Game of Imitation" tells about a successful victory over the Nazis. The Turing group is officially announced that their work has been discontinued. They can return home, forgetting about everything they did.
The action of the picture moves in the 50s. To the events with which the film began. Detective Knock calls Turing for interrogation. He is asking him what he did during the Second World War.
In response, Turing offers the policeman to take a non-trivial test. Try to guess who answers his questions. Machine or person. Turing is released, but he can forget about a quiet life. Information about his sexual preferences goes to the media. As a result, a well-known professor is officially accused of inappropriate behavior. He has two options - either go to jail or agree to chemical castration. Turing decides to take the medicine. This negatively affects his psyche.
The painting "The Game of Imitation" concludes with a report that Turing committed suicide in 1954. According to modern experts, breaking the Enigma code reduced World War II by two years, while helping to save several million lives.
Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch starred in The Imitation Game . The actor brilliantly recreated on the screen the image of a brilliant British scientist who made one of the most significant discoveries of the 20th century. At the same time, he experienced a deep personal trauma, which as a result led to suicide.
Cumberbatch is a famous English actor. For his role in this tape, he was nominated for an Academy Award. But the award went to Eddie Radmein for the role of the equally popular scientist Stephen Hawking in the historical melodrama of James Marsh's Theory of Everything.
For the film "The Game of Imitation" (2015), Cumberbatch was awarded the Golden Globe as the best actor in drama, the BAFTA Prize, as well as the United States Film Actors Guild Award.
The world fame and recognition of Cumberbatch was brought to the role of Sherlock in the series of the same name paired with Martin Freeman, Khan in the science fiction action movie J.J. Abrams "Star Trek: Retribution", Julian Assange in the biographical drama by Bill Condon "Fifth Power", Dr. Strange in the eponymous Scott Derrickson's superhero action movie.
Keira Knightley
The film “The Game of Imitation” (2015) was remembered not only by vivid male but female roles. The actors and the roles they performed received well-deserved recognition from the audience and critics.
For example, Keira Knightley created the key female image on the screen. She played the role of Joan Clark. Knightley is a world famous British actress. She made her film debut in 1993 in the little-known film "One Screen". In 1999, starred in George Lucas' space opera Star Wars. Episode I: The Phantom Menace. In this cult film, she got the role of a servant-double to Padme named Sabe.
The actress was twice nominated for an Academy Award. For the first time in 2006, for his work in Joe Wright’s drama Pride and Prejudice. However, then Reese Witherspoon won the Best Actress nomination for her role as June Carter in James Mangold’s biopic “Cross the Line”.
The second time, Knightley was nominated for just the work in the film "The Game of Imitation." The film brought many awards and prizes to the actors. This time, Kira claimed victory as the best supporting actress. But the treasured figurine she again did not get. The victory was celebrated by Patricia Arquette, who played Olivia Evans in the existential drama by Richard Linklater, "Adolescence."
Also, for his role in The Simulation Game, Knightley was nominated for a BAFTA Award, Critics' Choice, Golden Globe, Sputnik, and the US Screen Actors Guild Award.
Matthew Goode
Matthew Goode played Hugh Alexander in the movie "The Imitation Game." The 2015 film brought fame and popularity to the actor. Before that, Hood was hardly noticeable. Of his notable works, only the main role in the psychological thriller of Pak Chan Uk "Vicious Games" could be distinguished.
His character in the movie "The Game of Imitation" (2015) has a prototype - a real-life English chess player. Aleksande r was a two-time British chess champion, participated in chess Olympiads, led the United Kingdom team at a match meeting with the USSR team. During the Second World War, he worked in the team of Alan Turing, after the war he was engaged in cryptanalysts.
Charles Dance
Charles Dance played a prominent role in the movie The Game of Imitation (2015). The actor brought to life the image of Alistair Denniston, who headed the UK Government Communications Center.
Denniston began his career as an athlete. He even participated in the 1908 Olympics in London. He was part of the UK national field hockey team. Helped his team win, in the final, the British beat the Irish 8-1.
After that, Denniston was engaged in cryptography, radio intercepts. At the very beginning of the work on decoding the Enigma code, he directly led the Turing team.
Charles Dance for this role received the main prize in the nomination "Best Cast" at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
Reviews about the picture
"The Game of Imitation" is a film (2015), reviews of which were mostly received from both the audience and critics.
Many noted that this is a great example of a big movie, a brilliant camera work and a fascinating story about a real person always attract viewers to cinemas. The creators of the picture meticulously worked on every detail, so you can really go back to the events of 60 years ago by watching this tape.
Enough, however, and negative reviews. Basically, they were due to the fact that the film is too tight, the plot lacks dynamics. The director was accused of these shortcomings.