First rate

Rating: 9/10 (21 November 2014)

During World War II, brilliant mathematician Alan Turing is engaged on breaking the German Enigma code which involves pioneering computer work. Unfortunately, Turing is homosexual in an age where homosexuality is illegal, and there are those who seek to bring him down by whatever means possible.
This film is very good. The race to get Turing's computer to crack the Enigma code before the project is shut down is inherently exciting, and the behind-the-scenes machinations are also interesting. The period detail is good, as is the script, and the supporting cast are all first rate. The sequences of young Turing at boarding school are well done with Alex Cawther making the teenage Turing sympathetic, and Keira Knightley puts in a good performance as Turing's temporary fiancée.
But this is Benedict Cumberbatch's film. He conveys Turing's genius, arrogance, social ineptitude (undoubtedly fixed somewhere in the autism spectrum) and sometime mental anguish perfectly. It is a towering performance and, I hope will be nominated for the Best Actor Oscar. If so, it stands a very good job of winning.
This is an excellent film.