"The story is beautiful in many ways. A distinguished Benedict Cumberbatch performs the lead role flawlessly and is a joy to watch"

A classified British state secret comes out from the archives and on to the silver screen in The Imitation Game. It’s the true story of Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) who was a mathematician who worked for the secret services during WW2. With a crew of experts in maths and logic and crosswords for that matter, they are trying to break the code of the German Enigma machine that is encrypting all the Nazi war communications.

The story is beautiful in many ways. A distinguished Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock Holmes) performs the lead role flawlessly and is a joy to watch. The colour palette, costumes and cinematography is refined and mellow. It’s playing upon elements that I think characterise many of the most appreciated British films recently; a history element, a graceful style and a spot on choice of actors.

Norwegian director Morten Tyldum has balanced a very character driven story with the type of enthusiasm for creating suspense that he was praised for in Headhunters a few years ago.

The Imitation Game documents the not-so-long-ago discriminatory treatment of gay men in the UK and the condescending attitudes against women in the 1940s. But most of all it’s an enjoyable ride of top quality UK cinema. I think it will run and re-run on BBC films for decades to come. It might also bag Benedict Cumberbatch a well deserved Oscar. It’s not however, in any way, particularly ground-breaking.