'Big Bang theory' in the 40s...

Rating: 5/10 (25 January 2015)

A great actor, a greater story, an under average result.
Turing's story was one of the few untapped legends of modern history, potential film greatness all over. And then comes along the perfect actor But they needed a crowd pleaser, so nothing of this genius had to be 'difficult' to understand. From this production concept onwards the ruinous result is set. Cumberbatch does all he can but the film is doomed.
Blecthley park becomes an American style high school with little characters and their little cliché stories and little comedy scenes to alleviate the masses from ever feeling detached by an introversive complex genius fifty years ahead of his time. In order for us to empathise more with him he's translated into the 'nerd' stereotype more appropriate to sets like 'Big Bang Theory'. Real history is bent beyond ridiculous farce to accommodate a storyline populated by 'jolly good chaps' that US public will like better, the whole thing feels filmed on a couple of generic 40s sets with few extras available. Just have a look on American sit-coms sets and you will feel the same horrible sensation that everything was put up the day before and props are all-plastic replicas (which is OK for sit coms). Keira Knightley had to be there for a little love story (another production must) between nerds. Dialogue is appalling as the script dictates. Photography is good and uneventful, framing is rarely inspiring, WW2 newsreels are there to remember you all that this takes place in that timeframe, just in case you forgot
This film feels like an over budget History Channel crap documentary with an excellent actor that raises the vote from 4 to 5, but that's all he can do.