However, after watching the trailer, I felt like the film was very "been there done that", in the same way that I felt "The King's Speech" was, especially since this year we have film's like "Birdman" and "Interstellar" and even Disney's adaptation of dark musical "Into the Woods" on the horizon; in comparison, the film is reductive, it doesn't seem to be any different from the numerous amount of films that covered this subject matter before it. Besides, we have Angelina Jolie's WWII epic "Unbroken" coming out, which seems to be as every bit of inspirational and uplifting as The Imitation Game.
According to many of those who caught the film at the Telluride Film Festival this past week, however, the film is a major player, and a real threat at winning some top awards.
The film has a 9.5/10 (5 star) rating on IMDB at this moment, and has several critics raving, particularly about leading man Cumberbatch's performance.
Though Variety was a little less enthusiastic on the film as a whole unit than some critics were, Scott Foundas said Cumberbatch was "a triumph" in the lead role of real life code breaker Alan Turing, going to say that:
"... Cumberbatch invests himself so fully in the role that the scenes transcend their attendant cliches. His Turing is a marvel to watch, comically aloof when confronted with as mundane a task as ordering lunch, but seething with the mad intensity of a zealot whenever anything risks impeding his work, and finally heartbreaking in his inability to cope with the cruel realities of the world outside Bletchley Park."
In Contention's Kris Tapley was equally as high on Cumberbatch's performance, calling it "a career best" and comparing the film's reception to the warm embrace The King Speech went on to receive (it won Picture, Lead Actor for Collin Firth and 2 other awards at the Oscars later that year. Speech was also distributed and heavily campaigned by Weinstein).
Critics are also high on Keira Knightley's chances, with Awards Dailey's Sasha Stone writing that:
" There is one scene with Knightley that was like knocking down every silly stereotype women in these types of films fulfill — the nurturer, the protector, the inspiration. No, this woman is there to do good work and to uncover the part of herself capable of doing that in an environment that was not friendly to unmarried women who were brilliant in math."
Normally, the "supporting" role of the woman is enough to land an Oscar nomination (look no further than Helena Bonham Carter in The King's Speech or Jacki Weaver in "Silver Linings Playbook"), but if the role is as meaty as Stone suggests, Knightley's chances look good. She was previously nominated for "Pride and Prejudice", and has been that rare working actress who continues to challenge herself with new, often divisive roles (recently in "Anna Karenina" and "A Dangerous Method"). You can also count on her being nominated at the Globes in the Musical and Comedy Actress category for "Begin Again" (which she was amazing in)
Despite any sort of conventionalism that The Imitation Game might succumb to, I have no doubt in my mind the film is a lock for a Best Picture nomination; Weinstein will campaign this heavily no doubt.
Of her performance, Kris Tapley writes that:
"...gives it her all in the "present." She gets dirty, she wades through creeks, she shows the extreme exhaustion of such a major trek, but it's in the flashbacks that she truly shines. Often playing almost half her age, she has to bring Strayed to rock bottom in what could be constituted as a second arc for the character."
He also adds that it's her most "transformative work to date", which is always a plus with the acting branch of the Academy.
Variety's Justin Chang writes that her performance is, "intensely committed... easily her most affecting and substantial work in the nine years since "Walk the Line." She is a past winner in this category, which has been known to anoint repeat winners (Hillary Swank most recently is the recipient of 2 leading actress awards). Witherspoon is also a ball of sunshine in interviews and on the red carpet, she should not be discounted simply because she's been away from the Oscars and has previously won.
The film itself is being warmly received, as is director Jean-Marc Vallée and actress Laura Dern's performance. It too should not be counted out of the major categories, as big Oscar player Fox Searchlight will definitely be pushing this film hard with Witherspoon at the forefront; the actress is primed for a comeback, and by god it looks like she has found it.
Take a look at my current Oscar predictions here
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