Watch The Imitation Game

The Imitation Game is a movie directed by Morten Tyldum and released in 2014. It is a historical drama based on Alan Turing's life, a brilliant mathematician and cryptanalyst who played a crucial role in cracking the German Enigma code during World War II. The movie stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Turing, Keira Knightley as Joan Clarke, and Matthew Goode as Hugh Alexander.

The movie begins in 1951, when Turing's house is burgled, and he reports the incident to the police. During the investigation, the police discover that Turing is a homosexual, which was a crime in England at the time. They arrest him for gross indecency, and he is forced to undergo hormone therapy as a punishment. The movie then flashes back to the 1930s when Turing was a student at Cambridge University and shows his struggle to get his work recognized. He is socially awkward and has trouble making friends, but he meets Christopher Morcom, a fellow student, who becomes his best friend and introduces him to cryptography.

In 1939, Turing applies for a job at the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) at Bletchley Park, where the British government is trying to crack the Enigma code, which the Germans use to communicate. Turing is initially rejected because of his social awkwardness and unconventional methods, but he writes a letter to Winston Churchill, who intervenes and gets him hired.

Turing arrives at Bletchley Park and meets Hugh Alexander, who is in charge of the cryptanalysis division. Alexander is initially skeptical of Turing's ideas, but Turing convinces him and other members of his team to build a machine to crack the Enigma code. Turing designs a machine called the bombe, which can decipher the code much faster than humans. However, the bombe is not yet ready, and the German U-boats are sinking British ships at an alarming rate.

Turing is under pressure to crack the Enigma code quickly, but he is also facing personal problems. He is in love with Morcom, who died of tuberculosis, and he is hiding his homosexuality from his colleagues. He meets Joan Clarke, another cryptanalyst, who is smart, capable, and understanding. She becomes his friend, and he proposes marriage to her, so she can help him keep his homosexuality a secret. She accepts, but their engagement is short-lived, as she discovers his homosexuality and decides not to marry him. However, they remain friends, and she continues to work with him on the bombe project.

The movie then shows Turing and his team's race against time to crack the Enigma code before the Germans change it. They finally succeed and intercept a German message, which helps the British navy sink a German U-boat. The codebreakers continue to decode messages, which give the Allies a significant advantage in the war. However, to keep the Enigma machine's secret, Turing and his team cannot act on all the information they have deciphered, which leads to moral dilemmas.

The movie's last act shows the aftermath of WWII and Turing's arrest for gross indecency. The police discover his homosexuality, and he is forced to undergo hormone therapy as a punishment. The movie ends with Turing committing suicide by eating a poisoned apple, which is reminiscent of Snow White's story.

Overall, The Imitation Game is a compelling movie that portrays Turing's life, work, and legacy. It shows how his brilliance and unconventional methods helped him crack the Enigma code, which changed the course of WWII. However, the movie also highlights the injustice and discrimination that Turing faced because of his homosexuality. The movie's cast is excellent, and Benedict Cumberbatch's performance as Turing is outstanding. The movie's score, cinematography, and editing also add to its quality. The Imitation Game is a must-watch for history buffs, fans of cryptography, and anyone who appreciates a good drama.

The Imitation Game is a 2014 history movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 53 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.0 and a MetaScore of 71.