Academy Conversations: The Imitation Game

The Imitation Game discussion with actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley, director Morten Tyldum, writer Graham Moore, and producers Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky and Teddy Schwartzman on November 15, 2014 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
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ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards-in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners-the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

[@jonasbrothersluver73]

I absolutely loved this film. Even after seeing it for the fifth time, it still reduced me to tears. Everyone did a brilliant job. It's a true shame it won't win Best Picture.

[@rafiahmed963]

I hope Boyhood wins Best Picture.

[@jonasbrothersluver73]

Rafi Ahmed I have a feeling it will.

[@rajdeepsindhu9268]

The thing is, I love the movie if not attributed to the life of Alan Turing. What the movie describes the life of Turing to be like is not what it actually was. A lot of things in the movie are over dramatized and it's historically pretty inaccurate. Benedict's acting is, of course, great!

[@jonasbrothersluver73]

@@rajdeepsindhu9268 I hear you. I always cringe a bit when Keira's character mispronounces Euler's name. But I can forgive it for overdramatizing and being historically inaccurate because it's a movie, not a documentary. I see it as an introduction for people who previously have never heard about Alan Turing and if they're still interested after watching the film, they can do more research on their own. I don't look to art for history. I'm just happy more people know about Alan Turing. And I agree, Benedict's acting is topnotch.

[@kritikjones]

The oscar goes to Benedict Cumberbatch

[@jeffersonborges9932]

Nope! Eddie Redmayne will win for his performance in ''The Theory of Everything.'' I hope so. :D

[@josemiguelq]

Michael Keaton.

[@alexajs2535]

I hope

[@coronaflo]

The two Brits may cancel each other out.

[@iamgroot2810]

It's a shame he didn't win. Ben was so so brilliant in the movie. I cried everytime he cried onscreen. It's unfair.

[@OnLifeandLove]

Keira and Benedict are as intelligent in real life as their characters!

[@renamcvicar]

I saw the film for the first time having only bought the video from a second hand store... I wish I had known about Alan Turing long before and am completely wowed by the articulation and views of Cumberbatch for the character and the political clime that still exists today around the world that makes being homosexual a crime.

[@leann3984]

Knightley was easily the standout in this film. Cumberbatch is great, but without her no nonsense approach portrayal of Joan the movie wouldn't have worked at all. She's made a character (a truly supporting role) more than what is written (one note, bland, similar to every other female supporting role) and completely deserves the nomination.

[@jonasbrothersluver73]

Well said

[@starkingbiker]

Well the movie wouldnt have worked without cumberbatch either now, would it? Its a true story after all

[@anaki7983]

starkingbiker what he meant was that Knightley was the heart of the film, and without her it wouldn't have been as seamless as it was. Obviously both performances are nomination worthy but identifying with Turing would have been difficult as an audience member. Yes, everyone knows it is a true story.

[@SouthseaCavalier]

It's really interesting to see Benedict wondering why Turing wasn't on the banknotes 9 years ago, and now he's on the back of the £50 notes.

[@lvgl49goo]

The “ACM A. M. Turing Award” (named after Alan Turing) is an annual prize given by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) for contributions of lasting and major technical importance to computer science.

[@eyeonart6865]

Cumberbash should have won an Oscar. I quit watching Oscars they are all fixed.

[@Zonker66]

I was so angry when the Queen 'pardoned' Turing posthumously... who the hell was she to pardon him? She would have had a better legacy if she'd apologized and begged his pardon. I'd have remembered her well for that.

[@MyriamEH]

I haven't seen it yet. :/

[@MrDaiseymay]

DON'T---UNLESS YOU LIKE FANTASY

[@RealMrGreenTeaLatte]

Damnit Benedict! Spoilers!

[@PaulGLarsson]

Imitation game was a good film, but nothing more. It had a good performance by Cumberbatch, decent by Knightley (NOT Oscar worthy, just to full space.) The story was predictable and The writing followed The same recipe We've seen for years(Though it follows The recipe to The point). Clichés here and there, good scenes here and there, overall a good film. But not 8-oscar nomination worthy film. Foxcatcher or Nightcrawler ccould've easily replaced it's Best Picture nod and some of The other nominations (Like Knightley's) are just lazy. I liked it, don't Get me wrong, but it surely doesn't deserve all The nominations... Why can't The acadamy nominate more diverse. Not just 8 here, 9 here...

[@HardcoreGamer101508]

People just aren't interested in challenging films anymore (the studios or the masses).

[@PaulGLarsson]

***** It appears so. Shame, really.

[@starkingbiker]

Well, not all films have to have a big reveal or plot twist. The imitation game works as a drama since its well made, with great acting and directing and a nice message. However I do agree with you, the academy really missed some movies this year. The fact that they can nominate 10 films, and only chose 8, still baffles me

[@PaulGLarsson]

starkingbiker I agree, but it was just a straight road from start to finish. It doesn't need a big reveal but some more challenging content instead of basically retelling a story we've seen a thousand times in the very standard fashion as well. (outcast versus authority).

[@azlaniankhan]

Thanks Mr. Ebert for your opinion! I really fucking appreciated it!

[@idawg7332]

1st viewing:wow what an amazing, inspiring, well acted, emotional movie 2nd/3rd viewing: wow what a cliche, romanticized, unrealistic, inaccurate. safely directed, poorly written movie. At least The Theory of eveything gave Eddie Redmayne an an opportunity for a challenging role, here Cumberbatch's character is a combination of his Sherlock role and Sheldon Cooper while Knightly's performance is completely wooden. This movie is plain and simple oscar bait and should not have won for its screenplay

[@Nazaba09]

Seems like you have more of a problem with Benedict cumberbatch’s acting and how it’s always the same, than the film itself.

[@ar3125]

Natalie Zayas-Bazan afterall,"haters gonna hate"...it was an outstanding movie