The Imitation Game"The Imitation Game" stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley and Mathew Goode in this film that relates the efforts of British intelligence during World War II to break the German secret code. Co-written by Andrew Hodges (based on his book "Alan Turing: The Enigma") and Graham Moore, the film was ably directed by Morten Tyldum and tells of the extraordinary efforts of one man, Alan Turing, to create what was basically the first known computer. The information the film imparts and the tremendous undertaking of Turing and his aides to help shorten the war and save millions of lives will hold the interest of the audience to its exciting and unexpected climax. I give the film 3 and ½ stars and recommend it to history buffs and anyone else who is interested in seeing how far the human mind can go to conquer mathematical obstacles and achieve the seemingly impossible,

"The Imitation Game" stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley and Mathew Goode in this film that relates the efforts of British intelligence during World War II to break the German secret code. Co-written by Andrew Hodges (based on his book "Alan Turing: The Enigma") and Graham Moore, the film was ably directed by Morten Tyldum and tells of the extraordinary efforts of one man, Alan Turing, to create what was basically the first known computer. The information the film imparts and the tremendous undertaking of Turing and his aides  to help shorten the war and save millions of lives will hold the interest of the audience to its exciting and unexpected climax. I give the film 3 and ½ stars and recommend it to history buffs and anyone else who is interested in seeing how far the human mind can go to conquer mathematical obstacles and achieve the seemingly impossible,

Boyhood

"Boyhood" is a film I delayed in seeing because of its 242 minute length and revolutionary but, to me, at the time, unappetizing concept of watching a boy grow over a 12 year period. Nevertheless, on a rainy day in the desert with nothing much else to do, I went to see the film. To my pleasant surprise, my flexibility in viewing choices turned out to be one of the best movie decisions I ever made. The film, written and directed by Richard Linklater, is a unique exercise in film making where, for over a 12 year filming period, the same actors continue their roles as mother (Patricia Arquette), father (Ethan Hawke), son, Mason (Ellar Coltrane) and daughter, Samantha (Lorelei Linklater) and we literally watch them all grow and age on screen right before our eyes as if some magic time lapse mechanism was employed. True, the idea of watching family members grow over the years is not especially new except that other projects used different actors to play the same people in different stages of their respective lives. Here, we see the aging of the same actors, not only of the children, but of the parents and other adults as well, as they meet and deal with the various problems that befall them.
An unexpected result of having the same actors throughout is that it gives the film a legitimacy and authenticity even though it is a work of fiction.
One marvels at the logistical problems that could have occurred had one or more of the four principal cast members passed away or suffered significant life changes during this 12 year filming span (not to mention coordinating the professional availability of all or any of them throughout this over a decade shoot). I give the film 3 and ½ stars and thank the powers that be for making it rain the day I went to see it. Whether or not you enjoy the film as much as I did, it is worth seeing if, for no other reason, in order to experience the unique and innovative technique it employs.