Kingsman: The Secret Service

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Kingsman: The Secret Serivce.

Directed by Matthew Vaughn. 

Written by Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn.

Based on the Marvel Comics "The Secret Serivce" created by Mark Millar & Dave Gibbons.

Review #267

MPAA Rating: Rated R for sequences of strong violence, language and some sexual content.

Run Time: 129 min

Hulk Spoils Hollywood Podcast Page

Cast

Colin Firth...Harry Hart / Galahad

Mark Strong...Merlin

Jack Davenport...Lancelot

Mark Hamill...Professor Arnold

Sofia Boutella...Gazelle

Samuel L. Jackson...Valentine

Michael Caine...Arthur

Taron Egerton...Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin

Edward Holcroft...Charlie

Sophie Cookson...Roxy

Nicholas Banks...Digby

Jack Cutmore-Scott...Rufus

Nicholas Agnew...Nathaniel

Rowan Polonski...Piers

Tom Prior...Hugo

Fiona Hampton...Amelia

Bjørn Floberg...Scandinavian Prime Minister

Hanna Alström...Princess Tilde

 Lights....Camera....Popcorn's Quote/Quotes of the Film.

"Are we going to stand around here all day or are we going to fight?"

Harry Hart A.K.A Galahad. Played by Colin Firth

The spy film genre has always been a mixed bag. Of course we all know that 007 is the ultimate spy but those films catered to the vivid imagination. Then we got more grounded spy films that were based on actual events/organizations. Then the Jason Bourne films come along and blended the natural spy with the supernatural spy. My point is that with the infinite possibilities the spy genre can provide, comics are the perfect outlet to take this genre to another level.

Enter Mark Millar, Matthew Vaughn and one of the best comic book films this year and one of the better spy films in recent memory.

Plot

A spy organization recruits an unrefined, but promising street kid into the agency's ultra-competitive training program just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius.

I love that poster.

It's the perfect blend of sexy and the surreal. I chose to display this one for a number of reasons. I'll get into the main one in a bit. The bottom line is that the image tells you all you need to know about what you're going to see and it can be explained in one simple word.

Fun.

Kingsman is first and foremost a fun movie and it should be since it's based on a comic book. I haven't read the book but if it's anything like the Kick Ass series of books that Millar created (which I did read) then the tone is a bit on the darker side. The film version of Kick Ass (also directed by Vaughn) followed in the books footsteps and it would stand to reason that this film does the same. Regardless, Vaughn taps into the same formula that made Kick Ass so much fun to watch with Kingsman. He toes the line between the actual and the absurd. You as the audience believe that the technology and gadgets used in this film are legit.

At least in the world this film takes place in.

The only way that's possible is through the performance of the cast headlined by the dashing and deadly Colin Firth. This dude is an actor's actor and the role of Galahad is quite a departure from his "normal" fare. My first thought was bad choice but this man OWNS the role and was spectacular in it. I had no doubts about his ability to play the suave spy, my concerns reverted to the action hero side of the coin. I've never seen him in an action oriented role before and I have to say he pulled off some pretty dam impressive fighting.

With the help of his stunt double of course. Which is not a knock on him at all.

As a well known fan of martial arts films I look very closely at the choreography of the fights in Hollywood films. Some people have learned their lesson and employed the Hong Kong style of film fighting or went one step further and imported the stunt team's to handle the action. Kingsman didn't do either of that, what they did do was use a tactic in Hong Kong films called choreography of the camera or editing in camera. Several times in the kinetic fights that Firth was in the camera employed a technique called body wipes where a stunt person will flash themselves across the screen giving the editor a clean spot to make a cut in the action where the stunt double can continue the action in a portion of the fight where the actor/actress can't physically execute the moves. It's a seamless edit that you normally wouldn't see. Combine that with some fast camerawork and you get what appears to be an uninterrupted fight. It was fun to see the action unfold that way.

Vaughn even found a way to make the shaky cam (which I HATE) look stylish.

There is so much more to love about this film but I can't get into specifics. I will however take this time to talk about that poster and the reason why I gushed about it so much. The reason is this lovely lady here.

Her name is Sofia Boutella and I am in LOVE!

She's an Algerian actress and dancer who plays the beautiful and bad ass sidekick villain (no pun intended) Gazelle. She is pure Bond villain if I've ever seen one. She's got stilts with blades that extend out the middle when she kicks.

C'mon man! Too fu***ing COOL!

Her screen time is mostly relegated to standing by her "man" with an occasional line there and there in between bouts of bad assery. I don't know what it is about her but her look even with the legs was intoxicating to me and her footwork (pun intended) was pretty fancy. Maybe I'm a sucker for a pretty face that can kick my ass. I only wished Vaughn gave her more of a spotlight during her big fight at the end to really showcase her athletic ability. This was the one time that the camerawork and editing was too busy to really let Gazelle "cut" loose. Regardless, Gazelle gets some shining moments but she is the number two girl to the main main in this evil equation and he was undoubtedly the highlight of the film.

We all know that Samuel L. Jackson is one cool mother fu***er! This time he puts a twist to his cool. Valentine is an odd duck to say the least. He speaks with a lisp that is unavoidably funny and can't stand the sight of blood/violence. That being said it doesn't take away from his calculating persona and plan. The man knows what he's doing even under pressure. Just like everything else in this film, his master plan is fun and felt original.

The rest of the cast was stellar and played their roles expertly to their characters. One of the little touches that I enjoyed was these characters names were based on King Arthur's legend. Michael Caine was the leader named Arthur. Lancelot was Eggsy, Galahad was Hart and the tech wizard (pun intended played by Mark Strong was Merlin. Everyone blended in nicely to give the film more of a team effort as opposed to the "main" characters driving it through.

Final thought is simple. Kingsman: The Secret Service was a really fun film that had plenty of good action, wonderful spy stuff and a few well placed laughs. With exception of the final joke of the film. If you're interested in knowing what that was checkout the Hulk Spoils Hollywood episode where The Ranger and I dive into the film and said joke HERE! This film was a step up for Vaughn after Kick Ass. I would love to see what he could do with a different comic property that doesn't involve the works of Mark Millar or mutants.

On the 5 star scale. Kingsman: The Secret Service gets 4 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"

Still Alice

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Still Alice.

Directed by Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland. 

Written by Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland.

Based on the book "Still Alice" written by Lisa Genova.

Review #266

MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, and brief language including a sexual reference.

Run Time: 101 min

Hulk Spoils Hollywood Podcast Page

Cast

Julianne Moore...Alice Howland

Kate Bosworth...Anna Howland-Jones

Shane McRae...Charlie Howland-Jones

Hunter Parrish...Tom Howland

Alec Baldwin...John Howland

Kristen Stewart...Lydia Howland

Stephen Kunken...Dr. Benjamin

Lights....Camera....Popcorn's Quote/Quotes of the Film.

"We become ridiculous, incapable, comic. But this is not who we are, this is our disease."

Dr. Alice Howland played by Julianne Moore. 

Alzheimer's is a devastating disease. You make that claim for any disease but this one does more than take a person's life. It forces them and the loved ones around them to witness the mental decay of the person they once knew and loved. I can't imagine witnessing anything harder. This film was adapted from a book but it might as well been a true story because this disease and how it affects people is as real as it can get.

Plot

Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a devastating diagnosis, Alice and her family find their bonds tested.

The first thing that needs to be mentioned here is the SPECTACULAR performance by Julianne Moore.

The Best Actress Oscar is going home with her. Bet the house on it.

Her character's story would have been just as profound if she was just Alice Howland....wife and mother. To add to the equation that she was a highly regarded linguistics professor makes her descent far more tragic. She has everything a person could have. A loving husband, a great job, a "happy" family and to see it slowly taken away from her was very painful to watch.

That of course was the point of the film. Having said that it doesn't mean that I had to like it and I didn't but I also LOVED it!

This film is point blank tough.

You are not supposed to feel good watching it and if you're not drawn to tears at certain points then nothing will. Still Alice does more than put your heart through the wringer as Alice slips away from her mental facilities. Like any film that properly depicts someone dealing with this disease, you get the other side of the coin. You see how Alice's diagnosis and progression affects her family who were already "strained" at certain points. With highly successful parents the Howland children were raised through privilege and the three children have different ways of expressing how that life treated them. One child embraced the finer things in life and is very uppity. One child goes the other way and tries to do branch out on their own. The final child is a mix of the other two. The point is that the family dynamic between the children played a huge role in the development of the story and Alice's condition.

No matter how you see the children in this film the fact remains that Alice is and will forever be the driving force of this film. Not because she's the one dealing with this disease but because of how she continues to be defiant in the face of what is ultimately a death sentence. We see Alice taking the necessary steps to "take care" of herself when things get too advanced for her to live comfortably on her own. Moore gives Alice the dignity and power that everyone afflicted with this disease demands and deserves. That however doesn't take away the fact that she's scared sh**tless. In fact the moment for me that was the most powerful was when Alice finally confessed to her husband of her diagnosis. After the initial moments of incredulity he refuses to accept it because of her overall health and the fact that she's so young. It's not until Alice finally breaks down in horror when it hits them both that it doesn't matter how it happened.

It happened and it's time to deal with it.

That's what made this film so amazing. The truth of Alice's situation and how everyone decides to accept it.

Including you in the audience.

Still Alice reminds you that life is for the living and that in the snap of a finger it can be stripped away from you.

The question is what will you do with the time you are given before the final moment.

On the 5 star scale. Still Alice gets 4.5 stars with a big time "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"

American Sniper

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is American Sniper.

Directed by Clint Eastwood. 

Written by Jason Hall.

Based on the book "American Sniper" written by Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen & James Defelice.

Review #265

MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong and disturbing war violence, and language throughout including some sexual references.

Run Time: 132 min

Hulk Spoils Hollywood Podcast Page

Cast

Bradley Cooper...Chris Kyle

Keir O'Donnell...Jeff Kyle

Sienna Miller...Taya

Sammy Sheik...Mustafa

Lights....Camera....Popcorn's Quote/Quotes of the Film.

"I was just protecting my guys, they were trying to kill... our soldiers and I'm willing to meet my creator and answer for every shot that I took. The thing that... haunts me are all the guys that I couldn't save."

Chris Kyle played by Bradley Cooper

This year's Oscar race is chock full of films that are "based" on true stories. I'm not sure if it's any more than in previous years but this year's crop has some pretty compelling stories. American Sniper is one of them despite some missteps that Clint Eastwood and Jason Hall made along the way.

 Plot

Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle's pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. Back home to his wife and kids after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can't leave behind.

The numbers coming out after this film's release are staggering. The tally will change by the time this review comes out but as of this writing it's grossed $204,580,000 domestically. The film only cost $58.8 million to make. To say this movie is a hit is being kind. Did the Oscar nominations help? I'm sure it did. I think however that word of mouth spread like wild fire about this film and there you have it. Regardless of how this movie earned all that scratch it doesn't make it any less of an experience and trust me when I say that American Sniper is an experience.

Why is it an experience? Two words....Clint Eastwood.

Ladies and Gentlemen I present to you the return of the mighty Dirty Harry director. I realize  Bradley Cooper's performance is getting most of the attention but I have to say flat out that this film is more an achievement for Eastwood than Cooper. After knocking us all out with Million Dollar Baby (pun intended) Eastwood followed with some decent films and some down right flops. For some reason he failed to recapture the magic he displayed with Million Dollar Baby or Letters from Iwo Jima.

American Sniper marked his return to the storytelling he's famous for.

Eastwood ramps up the tension and anticipation in this film. The scene where he's got a kid in his sights looking at a rocket launcher and he's imploring him "Don't pick it up." It was a nerve wracking scene. A sniper has seconds to make a decision and if they're wrong....Let's just say they better not be wrong. Eastwood doesn't shy away from the tougher moments. One in particular involve a local Iraq warlord named "The Butcher", a child and a power drill. It was a very uncomfortable scene to watch but it captured the truth of what went on over there. Combined with Cooper's performance it's a winning duo that makes for a pretty damn good film. He also mastered the pacing. The movie takes you through all four of Kyle's tours in just over two hours and change and does a nice job of not making it repetitive.

Not once does it feel like wash, rinse, repeat.

This is because of Cooper.

He brings you into his world during the war and away from the sand. You see his fall from sanity while trying to adjust being home. Every time he returns he's never satisfied with the work he accomplished. On several occasions you see Kyle use the excuse of protecting the country from the enemy so he can go back and fight. He walks around like a wandering soul needing to finish one last piece of business before he can move on to paradise.

It's here where Eastwood and Hall make their mistake.

A big portion of the film revolves around a "feud" between Kyle and an enemy sniper named Mustafa. As Kyle continues to pick off enemies he develops a reputation from both sides. He's a legend to the U.S. troops and a bounty to the Iraq soldiers. Mustafa is their best sniper with Olympic skill and there are moments where it feels like The Joker is chasing Batman. This movie didn't need Chris Kyle going up against another sniper. It may have happened when Kyle was there but there was no need to embellish the dynamic between these two soldiers. There's a moment in the film when Mustafa is warned that Kyle and his team are approaching his area, he gears up and scrambles across rooftops looking like a parkour expert trying to secure the perfect position to take out Kyle and his team.

I know it's Hollywood but this was too much overkill for what was a real situation.

This segues nicely to the elephant in the proverbial room when it comes to breaking down this film. That's the several inaccuracies American Sniper is forced to defend. I won't go into all of them but since I brought up Mustafa, the way he met his demise at the hands of Kyle's rifle was not how it really happened. There were several others, some more egregious than others but the one thing that the outraged need to remember three little words.

It's....a....movie!

Before you see a single frame you are told that this film is based on a true story. Sometimes we forget that that disclaimer is code for....

"This may have happened, chances are it did happen but we're going to tell this version of the story instead."

It's hard at times to decipher what's real and what's movie make believe but I ask you this. When you were done watching this film were you interested in finding out more about Chris Kyle and what happened to him? If the answer to that question is yes then American Sniper did it's job and did it well.

American Sniper is at it's heart a film about a man who was compelled to fight for his country and had a hard time letting that go despite having everything to live for. Getting bogged down with the not true elements or the superhero vs super villain part takes away from the strength and message that the film was trying to send. What that message is is entirely up for debate. What's not up for debate is that this film has brought Clint Eastwood back from movie mediocrity.

Let's just hope it doesn't take him another 10 years to give us another winner.

On the 5 star scale. American Sniper gets 4 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"

Selma

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Selma.

Directed by Ava DuVernay. 

Written by Paul Webb.

Review #264

MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic material including violence, a suggestive moment, and brief strong language.

Run Time: 128 min

Hulk Spoils Hollywood Podcast Page

Cast

David Oyelowo...Martin Luther King Jr.

Carmen Ejogo...Coretta Scott King

Oprah Winfrey...Annie Lee Cooper

Tom Wilkinson...President Lyndon B. Johnson

Giovanni Ribisi...Lee White

André Holland...Andrew Young

Ruben Santiago-Hudson...Bayard Rustin

Colman Domingo...Ralph Abernathy

Omar J. Dorsey...James Orange

Common...James Bevel

Lorraine Toussaint...Amelia Boynton

E. Roger Mitchell...Frederick Reese

Dylan Baker...J. Edgar Hoover

Niecy Nash...Richie Jean Jackson

Corey Reynolds...Rev. C.T. Vivian

Wendell Pierce...Rev. Hosea Williams

Stephan James...John Lewis

Trai Byers...James Forman

Stan Houston...Sheriff Jim Clark

Tim Roth...Gov. George Wallace

Nigel Thatch...Malcolm X

Stephen Root...Colonel Al Lingo

Lights....Camera....Popcorn's Quote/Quotes of the Film.

"We will not wait any longer! Give us the vote! We're not asking we're demanding! Give us the vote!"

 Dr. Martin Luther King played by David Oyelowo.

Movies about the great Martin Luther King have been made before Selma. So why did this one impact me so much? I'm not sure if I can point to an exact reason but several factors are very intriguing to me. It's that intrigue that gives this movie a power that I never expected it to wield.

Plot

A chronicle of Martin Luther King's campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.

Before I begin this review, I'm going to take a quick moment to express my PASSIONATE opinion about how this film got SCREWED out of some very worthy Academy Award recognition. By now you've all heard of the films and talent that have been nominated for an Oscar. As is always the case with this process there were some snubs and surprises.

It's very rare that the snubs and surprises are married to each other when one film is concerned. Sadly, Selma is one of those films. It was nominated for Best Picture and deservedly so. The surprise is the omission of Ava DuVernay for Best Director. The snub goes to David Oyelowo for his "non-mination" in the Best Actor category.

Putting it simply....This is a CRIME and a TRAVESTY!

I will be illustrating this in greater detail on my next episode of Hulk Spoils Hollywood when The Ranger and I will dive into all the nominees and the controversies surrounding the announcements.

I hope you all check it out.

Now that my shameless plug is finished. Let's get into Selma.

It seems appropriate to begin with the man the film is based on and the man that plays him. David Oyelowo brings something new to the table with his performance. The film chronicles a specific portion of King's fight for civil rights and equality but it does something far more stirring. In brief glimpses, Selma takes you behind the wizard's curtain to show you just how human this Superman truly was. The opening scene accomplishes so much by doing so little that you are immediately served notice that this will not just be a story about black suppression and redemption. Oyelowo's portrayal was a treat to watch. He commands your attention during the many speeches he gives but does more in the moments where the bravado is toned down.

This is captured brilliantly when King interacts with Corretta. The film takes you through the strategic moves King and his supporters (including Coretta) employ to make their point in Alabama and more importantly Washington. This is an expected part of the storytelling, what I wasn't expecting was the after effects King's movement would have on his home life. You know the saying, "Behind every great man is a great woman!" In Selma's case it's pure truth but not for the reasons you may think. Selma does a great job showcasing King's ability to lead and display his immense power and influence. Corretta isn't left on the sidelines here and her inclusion in some very key moments of the film do more to humanize the world's most famous activist.

The other relationship in the film that Oyelowo brings major gravitas is with President Lyndon Johnson played by the great Tom Wilkinson. At first their interactions are cordial and professional. Both men expressing a desire to achieve a common goal. It's only when both men see different ways of getting to said goal does this "partnership" become explosive. It's no secret that Dr. King was just as skilled in politics as he was peacemaking. Selma does a nice job of giving us the dynamic between the leader of the civil rights movement versus the leader of the free world. Oyelowo wasn't afraid to take the gloves off and go toe to toe with Wilkinson in some very choice moments after the violence escalates in Alabama.

This is nothing new when it comes to describing how powerful this man was. I'm just reacting to the incredible performance by a man who was able to take the entire scope of Dr. King and give us a fair and balanced view of his days in Selma. Oyelowo displayed a dignity in playing King that felt fresh. I'm sure some scenes that dug at the heart of some personal issues with his home life didn't hurt. That being said the performance was a driving force that was LUDICROUSLY ignored by the Academy.

This segues nicely into the second half of the dynamic duo of this film.

Ava DuVernay.

There's no way this film gets any of the heat it's gotten without the tremendous contributions of this director. For someone directing their first feature she hit a home run and makes a strong case for female directors. I'm not saying that she broke a barrier here. There have been plenty of great directors that have come before her. What gives DuVernay so much oomph was her ability to tell a powerful story filled with amazing characters and be able to balance the emotionally charging elements of racism and inequality and layer it with compelling side issues that give the audience a chance to digest what just happened.

DuVernay did a great job of building tension and calm amongst the anarchy of the times this film takes place in. The people of Selma would follow King into hell if it meant having the right to vote and DuVernay gets that across in simple moments that lead into or following moments of outrage. She doesn't dismiss the thought provoking debates the film gives you as you follow the characters journey across that bridge.

To not be recognized for her work by the Academy is unacceptable.

The simple fact is Selma is a great film that for some inexplicable reason was collateral damage in the wake of the bombs the Academy dropped on announcement day. Best Picture nomination is not enough and whether they choose to admit it or not, (we all know they won't) Selma deserved better. The best part about all of this is that it doesn't change how I feel about this film and I have every confidence in the world that you will enjoy this film when you see it too.

On the 5 star scale. Selma gets 4 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"

The Imitation Game

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is The Imitation Game.

Directed by Morten Tyldum. 

Written by Graham Moore.

Based on the book - "Alan Turing: The Enigma" Written by Andrew Hodges.

Review #263

MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for some sexual references, mature thematic material and historical smoking.

Run Time: 114 min

Hulk Spoils Hollywood Podcast Page

Cast

Benedict Cumberbatch...Alan Turing

Keira Knightley...Joan Clarke

Matthew Goode...Hugh Alexander

Rory Kinnear...Detective Robert Nock

Allen Leech...John Cairncross

Matthew Beard...Peter Hilton

Charles Dance...Commander Denniston

Mark Strong...Stewart Menzies

Lights....Camera....Popcorn's Quote/Quotes of the Film.

Alan Turing: I like solving problems, Commander. And Enigma is the most difficult problem in the world.

Commander Denniston: Enigma isn't difficult, it's impossible. The Americans, the Russians, the French, the Germans, everyone thinks Enigma is unbreakable.

Alan Turing: Good. Let me try and we'll know for sure, won't we?

This was one of the few choice exchanges Bennedict Cumberbatch had with his fellow cast mates as the brilliant yet very complex Alan Turing. This film exposed Turing's unmatched intelligence while concealing something more important about him.

Plot

During World War II, mathematician Alan Turing tries to crack the enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians.

The synopsis like most of the ones I put on this site are very basic and generic. For the most part it's intentional since I try to be spoiler free. However, in some cases the description barely scratches the surface of the film.

This is one of those times.

As expected The Imitation Game is centered around Alan Turing and his revolutionary invention and genius. However, the film dives into his private life which gives the film more substance and heart. Throughout the narrative Turing is very abrasive and opinionated towards every facet of life and the world around him. His dizzying intellect is polarizing to everyone but himself and it frustrates him to no end. This leads to the presentation of his character as an uppity insufferable know it all. He's very abrasive to watch early on and it can turn you off to his story.

Until....

His secret is exposed.

This is what The Imitation Game gets right from the beginning. Had this film been told from the paint by numbers chronology, we'd be talking about an entirely different movie. A more inferior film to be up front about it. The movie does what many others have done with similar characters and their stories and like the previous films it works here. Learning about Turing's childhood while he invents the code breaking computer "Christopher" gives the audience a nice change of pace from the formulaic breakdown films like this tend to employ.

A good performance doesn't hurt either and Benedict Cumberbatch provided that. Was it worth the Oscar nomination? That's up for debate. I for one don't think so. Just my opinion. I think Cumberbatch is a tremendous talent. I LOVE him in the Sherlock series and he's done some great work in other films. He makes Star Trek Into Darkness worth watching which is saying a LOT! I'm looking forward to seeing what he will do with Dr. Strange. He certainly has the chops and gravitas to play the role. The man is a great actor who's earned all the praise and heat he's getting right now.

That being said he wasn't alone here.

A leading actor is only as good as his supporting cast and the rest of Turing's team played off the enigmatic savant like a well oiled machine. Many will immediately point to Keira Knightley as the one who goes toe to toe with Cumberbatch. A fair point but I thought that Matthew Goode was more of a force against Cumberbatch. He's another good actor who has been in a lot of smaller pictures. His defiance to Turing's desire to build the computer gave the film an interesting power struggle. How do the teammates handle clashing ego's and opposite agendas in the face of an ongoing war where their task has a deadline on it every single day.

This was one of the most intriguing things I experienced watching this film. The fact that Turing and the other code breakers were not just bound by the limits of their intelligence but by the clock. Being able to manage the frustration of failing to break the Enigma machine in the allotted time which may have led to hundreds or thousands of soldiers deaths is not an easy pill to swallow. This gets compounded by the constant disagreement of attacking the Nazi's codes among the team members.

Once the mystery is finally solved The Imitation Game gives us the reward we were waiting for. It was a satisfying moment to watch as Turing figures it out at the most unexpected time from the most unexpected person. Whether this a ha moment actually happened or if it was Hollywood story telling is up for you to decide. I tend to believe the latter explanation. It doesn't change the fact that it was really fun to see the team achieve their goal. There is a moment to nitpick with this film after "Christopher" deciphers the codes. After all this euphoria the film pulls the rug from under you and hits you with a dose of reality which effects one of the team members in a profound way. At the outset it's handled very well dramatically then it gets swept away for more Turing drama. I would have preferred to stay with this dynamic a little longer. There were places to trim to give the moment I'm talking about more time.

It's too bad that it didn't happen.

Final tally is easy. The Imitation Game is a really good film filled with tense and intriguing drama involving a brilliant man who had so much left to offer this world if not for the barbaric minded times he lived in. Benedict Cumberbatch is superb and channels the tortured soul Turing was before, during and after the war. There was just a small disconnect between some story elements that would have made this a much more powerful film.

Which is saying a lot because this movie is pretty strong already.

On the 5 star scale. The Imitation Game gets 3.5 stars with a "Go See It!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"