The Imitation Game

If you’re in the mood for an intense period drama this Autumn then the beautifully produced World War 2 film The Imitation Game might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Alan Turing, the preeminent English codebreaker, whose name is now synonymous with the birth of computing.

Alan Turing Biography Movie

The film- which will be released in the UK on November 14-  follows Cumberbatch’s Turing from his unhappy days at boarding school to his time at Bletchley Park- HQ of the British wartime code breaking team- and up to his indecency convictions for homosexuality.

In a uniquely British take on the mortal drama surrounding the wartime life of mathematical genius Turing, the film explores both his time as one of the most influential code breakers of the war effort, and the tension in his personal life as he attempted to live with his then-criminal lifestyle.

While Turing’s work at Bletchley Park was key in breaking Nazi Germany’s Enigma code- thus helping turn the tide of the war in the Allies’ favour- this was ultimately overshadowed by his indecency convictions. 

Keira Knightly New Movie 2014

The Imitation Game focuses mainly on Turing’s wartime role and on his romantic relationship with one-time fiancee Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley)- in spite of his sexuality.

Fresh from a string of critically acclaimed performances including in The Fifth Estate and Star Trek: Into Darkness, Cumberbatch again gets to flex his considerable acting muscles as he delves deep into the complex character of Turing: exactly the sort of irascible, pompous but ultimately vulnerable character that suits the London actors’ skills.

A roll-call of modern British character acting talent supports the central duo of Knigthley and Cumberbatch, including Mark Strong as a high ranking military official and Matthew Goode as another code breaker in Turing’s team.

Cumberbatch and the rest of the cast are guaranteed to enthral in this wartime drama fraught with personal tensions.