Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Arguably, no single individual did more to win World War II than Alan Turing. By cracking the Nazi Enigma code, it is estimated that the genius mathematician shortened the war by two years and saved 14 million lives. So, why isn’t he a household name? Father of the computer, Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) worked in Britain’s top-secret Bletchley Park, and his achievements were classified for over 50 years. The Imitation Game tells the story of Turing and his fellow code-breakers fighting the clock—and each other—in a race to win the war. Cumberbatch is transcendent as the antisocial, self-absorbed Turing, while Keira Knightley gives her best performance to date as his collaborator and confidante, Joan Clarke. (Both were nominated for Oscars.)

Video quality approaches reference class. From the opening scene, wherein raindrops dance on the roofs of police cars, gobs of subtle detail abound. Check the various wallpaper patterns, textures of clothing and hair, and minute facial features, all of which are resolved with microscopic accuracy. Colors are notably and naturally unsaturated, with a palette of drab greens and blues that only pops with a couple of Knightley’s brightly colored outfits. From pure whites to deep blacks, the entire grayscale is flawlessly, cohesively described, and shadows are meticulously rendered. Images are at once sharp and contrasty but never fatiguing. CGI scenes are intentionally murky. Only some very fine grain and noise keep this transfer short of perfection.

Although this docudrama offers few opportunities for spectacular sonics, it will give your system a real workout! The soundtrack delights with clarity, detail, and dynamics. Dialogue intelligibility is beyond criticism, as evidenced by the articulation of British accents. Although there are few hard surround effects, your rear speakers won’t lie dormant. Atmospheric effects—crowd noise during pub scenes or birds outdoors at Bletchley Park—are notable both for their consistency and natural detail. From the clatter of typewriters to the rustling of papers, microdynamics are sharp and percussive. A mild bass boost heightens drama and impact

Happily, the Blu-ray package includes an informative and insightful full-length commentary by director Morton Tyldum and writer Graham Moore. There are only two deleted scenes but one of these, an alternate ending, might have made this superb, Oscar-winning film even better.

Blu-Ray
Studio: Anchor Bay, 2014
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Audio Format: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Length: 114 mins.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Morten Tyldum
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode