Ensign Lestat's Oscars Countdown, 19/01/2015
The Imitation Game
Nominations - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor (Benedict Cumberbatch), Best Supporting Actress (Keira Knightley), Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Production Design
Genius codebreaker Alan Turing received a posthumous pardon for his 'crimes' in 2013 and was honoured for his incredible work in decoding the German Enigma machine and helping the effort in winning the Second World War. Turing's name was erased (figuratively) from our history books because he was a homosexual, at a time when homosexuality was a crime punishable by law.
His story had hardly hit the papers when we heard that a film was being made about him. In Morten Tyldum's 'The Imitation Game', Turing was to be played by current wonder man, Benedict Cumberbatch. Usually, I'd get quite excited about a film about a war hero, no matter how upsetting his ultimate demise may be, a film celebrating his work and his efforts is a reward in itself.
But, something nagged me about this film. The trailer gave it a conservative look, focusing on Turing's relationship with fellow cryptographer Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley).
We meet Turing in the film as he begins his project in decoding the Enigma machine. He's abrasive and rash, lost in his own world while his team attempts to solve the daily Enigma codes.
Benedict's emulation of Turing's eccentricities and manner of speech was on point, but at times felt too forced. I think his performance was noteworthy, but Oscar-worthy? There was still too much Benedict shining through for the audience to completely lose itself in the character.
I'm not entirely sure whether there was a point to casting Matthew Goode. Goode often turns up in these Oscar-baiters as a side character, with little to no arc or substance. He was a virtual MPDG in 'A Single Man', and has even less significance in this film. He looks the part, and acts the part, but does nothing except become indignant at Turing's apparent lack of genius.
The rest of the cast work well in their roles. I felt Mark Strong was a bit unused, and that his relationship with Turing was something the writers wanted to explore but couldn't quite get the time to do it. I only have a passing knowledge about Turing, so the interaction between these two characters left me confused most of the time.
I can't believe Keira Knightley has received a nomination. This just adds to my point that this year has been pretty poor in choosing meaty character roles for the women's awards. Knightley does nothing different in this role and while Clarke was obviously very accomplished, her character on-screen does nothing of note barring support Turing through the decoding process. She's not seen as part of the team, doesn't do any actual cryptography. This film is all about tell, don't show. We are told, constantly, that Joan's the best at this, but never see her exercise her skills. Instead her character is used solely as the crutch for Turing's heteronormative portrayal.
The Imitation Game
Nominations - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor (Benedict Cumberbatch), Best Supporting Actress (Keira Knightley), Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Production Design
Genius codebreaker Alan Turing received a posthumous pardon for his 'crimes' in 2013 and was honoured for his incredible work in decoding the German Enigma machine and helping the effort in winning the Second World War. Turing's name was erased (figuratively) from our history books because he was a homosexual, at a time when homosexuality was a crime punishable by law.
His story had hardly hit the papers when we heard that a film was being made about him. In Morten Tyldum's 'The Imitation Game', Turing was to be played by current wonder man, Benedict Cumberbatch. Usually, I'd get quite excited about a film about a war hero, no matter how upsetting his ultimate demise may be, a film celebrating his work and his efforts is a reward in itself.But, something nagged me about this film. The trailer gave it a conservative look, focusing on Turing's relationship with fellow cryptographer Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley).
We meet Turing in the film as he begins his project in decoding the Enigma machine. He's abrasive and rash, lost in his own world while his team attempts to solve the daily Enigma codes.
Benedict's emulation of Turing's eccentricities and manner of speech was on point, but at times felt too forced. I think his performance was noteworthy, but Oscar-worthy? There was still too much Benedict shining through for the audience to completely lose itself in the character.
I'm not entirely sure whether there was a point to casting Matthew Goode. Goode often turns up in these Oscar-baiters as a side character, with little to no arc or substance. He was a virtual MPDG in 'A Single Man', and has even less significance in this film. He looks the part, and acts the part, but does nothing except become indignant at Turing's apparent lack of genius.
The rest of the cast work well in their roles. I felt Mark Strong was a bit unused, and that his relationship with Turing was something the writers wanted to explore but couldn't quite get the time to do it. I only have a passing knowledge about Turing, so the interaction between these two characters left me confused most of the time.
I can't believe Keira Knightley has received a nomination. This just adds to my point that this year has been pretty poor in choosing meaty character roles for the women's awards. Knightley does nothing different in this role and while Clarke was obviously very accomplished, her character on-screen does nothing of note barring support Turing through the decoding process. She's not seen as part of the team, doesn't do any actual cryptography. This film is all about tell, don't show. We are told, constantly, that Joan's the best at this, but never see her exercise her skills. Instead her character is used solely as the crutch for Turing's heteronormative portrayal.
The film itself is wayward and confused, not quite focusing on his greatest achievement, yet struggling to make him a believable eccentric. We are thrust into memories of his childhood, but there too we focus on a sole relationship with a fellow student. This relationship is used beautifully near the end of the film, but in the overall context of the story it doesn't fit.
I feel the writers may have done Turing a great disservice by only touching on but not exploring the side of him that led to his supposed downfall. The man committed suicide after opting for medical castration over a prison sentence when he was found guilty of indecency. That's someone carrying a giant burden and sinking under the weight of it.
I had read that this film intended to avoid the focus on Turing's sexuality, and while I have nothing against that plan, I find it difficult to relate to a film that purposefully ignores an aspect of his character that directly affected his life.
I keep harping on this point because erasure of this kind is why we are unaware of the diverse heroes of the past. Women have been erased. People of colour and different abilities have all but been forgotten. This film, in its attempt to appease the Academy voters, doesn't show us anything of Turing's struggle, instead opting to throw events at us to build the character.
I struggled to enjoy this film because it was so hindered by outside views. Meaningful glances shared between Goode's Hugh and Turing in the trailer, are absent or signify the exact opposite of the same in the film. The younger Turing is obviously touched by the friendship of fellow student Christopher, but the writers wait to inform us of Turing's preferences before indicating young love was blossoming between the boys.
The film is accomplished but feels like a by-the-numbers Oscar-baiter. I ended up wanting to learn more about the Enigma machine and its creators (were they the bad guys or coerced as many scientists were in Nazi Germany) than caring for the team on on-screen. The film is beautiful to watch, and has the occasional hair-raising scene, but it doesn't surprise, delight or enrage us. I didn't need Turing to be overtly likeable or for him to have a full-fledged relationship with another man, but the film lacked any emotion. Benedict's character in 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' had more depth and we felt more wronged by the discrimination to that character than we are ever allowed to feel for Turing in this film - and Turing was a real person. That character in Tinker Tailor wasn't even originally written as gay.
I don't think this film is a sureshot for the wins, though we may be surprised. However, I do wish it had been more inclusive, then I may have been rooting for it more.
I had read that this film intended to avoid the focus on Turing's sexuality, and while I have nothing against that plan, I find it difficult to relate to a film that purposefully ignores an aspect of his character that directly affected his life.
I keep harping on this point because erasure of this kind is why we are unaware of the diverse heroes of the past. Women have been erased. People of colour and different abilities have all but been forgotten. This film, in its attempt to appease the Academy voters, doesn't show us anything of Turing's struggle, instead opting to throw events at us to build the character.
I struggled to enjoy this film because it was so hindered by outside views. Meaningful glances shared between Goode's Hugh and Turing in the trailer, are absent or signify the exact opposite of the same in the film. The younger Turing is obviously touched by the friendship of fellow student Christopher, but the writers wait to inform us of Turing's preferences before indicating young love was blossoming between the boys.
The film is accomplished but feels like a by-the-numbers Oscar-baiter. I ended up wanting to learn more about the Enigma machine and its creators (were they the bad guys or coerced as many scientists were in Nazi Germany) than caring for the team on on-screen. The film is beautiful to watch, and has the occasional hair-raising scene, but it doesn't surprise, delight or enrage us. I didn't need Turing to be overtly likeable or for him to have a full-fledged relationship with another man, but the film lacked any emotion. Benedict's character in 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' had more depth and we felt more wronged by the discrimination to that character than we are ever allowed to feel for Turing in this film - and Turing was a real person. That character in Tinker Tailor wasn't even originally written as gay.
I don't think this film is a sureshot for the wins, though we may be surprised. However, I do wish it had been more inclusive, then I may have been rooting for it more.
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