Great Story About WWII and the War One Man Battled With Himself

Rating: 8/10 (19 March 2017)

The Imitation Game is a dramatic movie with a slight touch of suspense based on Alan Turing's experience well working for the British Government Communication Headquarters. Ultimately Turing is able to help break the code for the Enigma machines that the Germans were using to send encrypted messages during war time. The movie starts with the present day of Alan's life, a break in at Alan's house and how Alan reacts to the officers and the way he responds to others being in his house is alarming to the police that are trying to get information for their investigation. This sparks officers to look into Alan's background. The film then transitions to 1939 when Alan is interviewing for the British Government Communication. This point of the movie we get see the characterization of the key roles in this film. Something that sticks out about Alan is that he a very literal person. We see how socially awkward Alan is when he interacts with a group. At this point the film continues with the non-linear format and flashes back to when Alan was is in grade school. This sets up another character of the film. Christopher, Christopher is Alan's school friend that Alan states is the reason he was able to get through school and who introduced him to cryptic messages. Because this film his based on actual events that occurred and on parts of Alan's life the story is very credible. The film does a fantastic job of showing what life was like living Britain during WWII. All of the clothing and scenery is very dull. Not too many colors and the town's people seem to have come to term with bombings that happen quite often. In one scene the alarm for the citizens to take cover goes off. The camera shows the plane flying over the very dark city and then shows a families calmly but steadily to the bomb shelters. As the bombs were hitting, the scene shows some of the celling falling in the shelter but no one reacts. The screen then transitions to the morning after showing all the destruction that has been caused. This sets the mood to show the pressure that Alan his under help solve Enigmas encrypted messages. I found it interesting that the only other person that Alan truly let see him for who he was Joan. I think Alan was able to relate to Joan because he understood some of what she went through being different. Woman during that time were not allowed to work certain jobs because they were viewed as not being able to have to same brain capacity as men. Joan was a woman who could solve math problems and crossword puzzles faster than Alan. This was unheard of and men never gave her chance, so Alan did. Alan tells Joan the same words that Christopher said to him when he was unsure of himself. "Sometimes it is the people no one images anything of who do the things that no one can imagine." At the time Alan does not tell her it was Christopher that told him the very same words but Joan learns to trust Alan and is thankful for what he has done for her. Joan character develops into someone that is strong and sure of herself that no longer has to rely on Alan to protect her. She actually tries to protect Alan later in the movie when the allegations come out that he is gay. She is scared for Alan and is willing to commit perjury to save him from the government sanctioned laws against gay men. The two points of climax for me was when the commanding officer finally has enough Alan's attitude and takes his personal feelings out on Alan by getting back at him professionally and bring a team to unplug the machine. Alan his able to convince the commander to give him another month which heightens the suspense and anxiety of the audience. We want to see Alan win, he has been through so much and believes in this machine so much. Plus the machine is a extension of Christopher for Alan so it has to work. The second conflict when the officers find out that what Alan was hiding that he is a homosexual. The officer knows that Alan his a war hero and does not want to pursue with the charges but at this point it is out of his hands. The charges are eventually filed on Alan.
Alan's internal conflicts eventually win over him. Alan knew he was different when he was younger and tried his best to hide that he is gay. Because of this he does not even want to admit that he was friends with Christopher when the school official tells him that Christopher has died. The very thing that Alan worked so hard to hide and keep to himself is the thing that ultimately ends up ruining the man he was.