The real meaning of never judging a book by its cover

Rating: 8/10 (15 December 2015)

This is a film about that strange, geeky kid with eccentric idiosyncrasies who gets bullied in the school yard, turning out to be a genius and making a profound impact on the course of history. That kid is Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), who grew up to become an extraordinary pioneer of computer science. His story, as told by the film, is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching. You learn the real meaning of never judging a book by its cover.
The film begins in Britain during WWII, when Turing, a mathematics professor, is recruited by the British government to break an unbreakable code - The Engima, a machine that the Germans use to send encrypted messages to each other. It was a mission impossible, and indeed it was, as the odds against Turing and his team were ginormous - as the machine coughs up 159 + 18 zeros different possibilities (Wait what? that's 159 million million million!). As Turing puts it, it will take 10 men, even if they don't sleep, frolic, drink or eat, 20 million years to go through them. And to add icing on the cake, the whole system changes every. single. day.
And so, an ingenious idea to build a machine to defeat this machine was born. But of course, conflicts ensue and Turing was faced with funding issues (which he solved through grabbing funds from Churchill himself), being a social outcast and snob to his fellow code breakers (there was an amusing scene where Turing tried to bribe others to like him by feeding them apples), and a frustrating constant need to prove himself and his plans to others. Just believe him for God's sake! And as if that wasn't bad enough, he was also accused of being a Soviet spy, solely based on his social awkwardness and quiet personality. It is also here that he recruits Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley), his fiancée for a short period of time, an intelligent lady with an incredible knack for solving obscure puzzles. After much turmoil, Turing and this team finally cracks the code, but was confronted with yet another dilemma, which messages should we act on? Whose lives should we save?
A series of flashbacks showed us that when young Turing (Alex Lawther) was at boarding school, he formed a close relationship with Christopher Morcom (Jack Bannon), who tragically died young from an illness. Naming his machine after him, Turing's homosexuality was revealed and after the war, was harshly prosecuted for it. Cumberbatch's performance really brings out Turing's introverted yet direct nature. His tendency to say whatever is on his mind, without any filters reminds me of Jim Parson's Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory. His exchanges with Commanded Denniston (Charles Dance) at his job interview were very entertaining. Turing's quick, unintentional wit will leave you humoured and speechless, in a good way. His arrogance is almost adorable, and never makes you want to put poison in his tea.
As this film is more or less a dramatisation of Turing's life, there are bound to be historical inaccuracies. But the essence of his tremendous contributions to the war and the degrading treatment he endured for his sexual orientation remain true. You will leave the with phenomenal gratitude and sympathy for this man, who, despite being considered as less of a man at the time, is more of one than many of us.