The Imitation Game

This, in our movie review, we wanted to talk about a movie that reflects the life of one of the most influential mathematicians who is deemed the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence. Heard about Turing test? Today, our movie review features The Imitation Game, an excellent movie that best reflects Alan Turing’s part in cracking enigma.

           

Being a historical drama directed by Morten Tyldum and written by Graham Moore, the movie is based on a 1983-written biography of Alan Turing written by Andrew Hodges. Very cleverly chosen, the title quotes Alan Turing’s proposition of the name of a game to answer the question “Can machines think?” The movie stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley.

 

 

           

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Figure 1. [2]

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Through several flashbacks, the audience goes through young Turing’s sufferings in boarding school, where he is bullied constantly. Turing’s interest in cryptography, though, was sparked by his only friend at boarding school, Christopher Morcom, for whom Turing develops romantic feelings. However, Christopher dies from bovine tuberculosis soon.

 

 

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Figure 2. [1]

 

When working on how to crack Enigma, Turing is sure that he needs a machine to do and starts designing one. His project is refused to be funded at first although after Turing contacts Churchill, he is put in charge of the project. During the project, Turing finds a replacement for people he fired, Joan Clarke, a Cambridge graduate who is the only candidate able to solve his crossword puzzle. Turing names the machine Christopher to honor his old friend. The gist of enigma’s solution is that Turing recalibrates the machine, which initially doesn't work quite as good, in accordance with the messages he already knows. 

 

Turing discovers that one of their teammates is working for Soviets, but the Soviet spy threatens to disclose Turing’s sexual identity. Later, Turing goes through chemical castration because he is a homosexual and finally commits suicide.

 

Figure References

[1]  “The Imitation Game” IMDB, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/.

[2] Turgut, Alp.”The Imitation Game(2014).” http://www.filmdoktoru.com/inceleme/the-imitation-game-2014/.