Cumberbatch Holds Down the Fort

Rating: 7/10 (12 July 2015)

A typically impressive leading performance by Benedict Cumberbatch ties together both the successful and the looser elements of the story. Overall, The Imitation Game can't escape coming off as distractingly historically inaccurate, which ultimately leads to a bitter aftertaste once the novelty of viewing another well acted biographical drama wears off. The character of Alan Turing himself is only paid arguably just homage, as he's portrayed with borderline Asperger Syndrome to keep with Cumberbatch's socially awkward genius typecast. That being said, the sacrifices in terms of history pay off in terms of drama, as viewers can feel the tension wanting to be portrayed by the crew in a more personal manner than if what historically happened was actually presented on screen. All in all, it's a recommendable drama, though not one of the best that 2014 had to offer overall.