The day Cumberbatch came of age.

Rating: 8/10 (18 November 2014)

The British Government essentially killed Alan Turing.
The man who invented what we now consider the 'computer' and he may have saved 14 million people from death because of his contribution, sorry vast contribution, to the foreshortening of the Second World War through his invention of the Enigma code breaking machine. Churchill thought so.
But, the trouble is, you see, Alan Turing was a homosexual. And the British Government (like many today did not like homosexuals). Homosexuals in the post war years were lepers of society. So the British Government chemically castrated him.
Alan Turing was most likely also a sufferer of Aspergers Syndrome.
He was, in every sense of the word, a genius.
He was not a likable man because to make real, substantial change sometimes eschews popularity. He was not popular.
It's a dream role for an actor of substance. That actor is Benedict Cumberbatch.
At the time of writing Cumberbatch has seven movies in production, new episodes of the BBC's Sherlock and a couple of episodes of The Hollow Crown as Richard III as work in progress. It would seem reasonable to assume from this that he is a man in demand.
Why?
Because he is a brilliant actor. And this is his time. This is most certainly his movie. Yes, he has good support from Keira Knightley, Allen Leech, Matthew Goode and especially Mark Strong, as his 'boss'. Charles Dance moves on from his movie idol roles into the baddie spotlight and carries it off effortlessly. But make no mistake. This is ALL about Benedict Cumberbatch.
Biopics are often easy meat because they can be imitation games.
But who knew Turing?
In Cumberbatch's hands he's a clean sheet and as the movie develops he progresses from a no name to an absolute hero.
Who cares about Alan Turing? At the start; maybe only the informed. By the end; we all do. It builds to a highly emotional climax that is handled with great skill by breaking Norwegian director Morgan Tyldum. You probably don't know his work. I don't I'm afraid; but I'm keen to.
This is great cinema. Please go see it.