Who is in it?
Benedict “socially awkward otter” Cumberbatch, Keira “posh lady required”Knightley, Mathew “distractingly pretty” Goode, Mark “your wig guy needs their own special Oscar” Strong, Charles “so you think you can” Dance, Tuppence “not a main character but love the name” Middleton, Rory “Classy northerner” Kinnear
What is it about?
How Alan Turing the father of the modern computer helped break an unbreakable code and the society which vilifies and degrades outsiders and the sexually different, irrespective of their immense talent.
Why did I want to watch it?
Alan Turing’s tale is a poignant one, which needs to be told.
Did I like it?
I thought it was magnificent. The script was equally funny and touching, and the tale was told in an unpretentious enjoyable way.
Should you watch it?
Yes. It is one of the best films I have seen in recent months. If nothing else, if you like crosswords you will feel like you have the makings of a genius and capable of defeating despots the world over.
Does it pass the Bechdel Test? http://bechdeltest.com/
Nope. There aren’t that many women in the film and there are discussions about how hard a time an intelligent woman has to be taken seriously. When Joan turns up to be assessed for the Programme the patronising way she is treated says it all.
Other films it doesn’t remind me of:
The Social Network. Whilst both about social outcast computer geniuses who have difficulty making friends, Turinf comes across as an affable recluse, Zuckerberg is portrayed as an obnoxious child.
Watch this instead/as well/before/after:
I’ve still not seen it but Benedict Cumberbatch plays another real life figure, Julian Assange, in The Fifth Estate. Daniel Bruhl is in it so it could be watchable (feel free to let me know what you think in the comments)
The Kings Speech is the forties, once again scored by Alexandre Desplat (guess who I think will get an Oscar nomination?).
ELC
What Have You Done To Deserve This? 