The Imitation Game starring Benedict Cumberbatch

A wonderful film. The performances were excellent all round.

because 1) the history is fascinating, and 2) Benedict Cumberbatch.

Both the movie and the actor deserve an Oscar. (OK, we have not seen many movies these years..)

I found it interesting that when Joan showed up to the "test" after solving the puzzle, she was told that "secretaries should go upstairs."

What I found touching was that after they broke the code, they had to decide how to handle it.

And, of course, the fact that in many parts of the world, homosexuality is still considered a crime, punishable by death.

and did a little on-line searching.

Joan ran in to considerable misogyny as a woman working in a 'man's' world. Apparently,
there were very different pay scales for women--doing the same work--and she
ended up being classified as having translation skills--even though she didn't--as a result
of some of her male friends helping to do an end run around the pay scale inequities. And
she was not nearly the 'looker' that Keira Knightley is. Typical Hollywood.

I had a hard time following the story because it was back and forth so much in time,
and I never really 'got' that it was an investigation into a burglary at Turing's apartment in the early 50's
that 'uncovered' his homosexuality which resulted in the charges against him--and ultimately
his suicide--even though all his war colleagues were aware of it. Talk about invasion of privacy! And by the way, no thanks for help with ending WW II.

The True Story of The Imitation Game

http://time.com/3609585/the-true-story-of-the-imitation-game/

Alan Turing’s first love, Christopher, died at a young age

Ruling: Fact

Alan Turing was a closeted gay man

Ruling: Fact

Joan Clarke is invited to Bletchley Park, the home of the government’s code breaking operation, after completing a crossword puzzle

Ruling: Fiction

Joan’s parents didn’t want her at Bletchley

Ruling: Fiction

Turing named the code breaking machine “Christopher”

Ruling: Fiction

John Cairncross threatens to expose Turing’s sexuality if Turing reveals he’s a spy

Ruling: Fiction

Turing asked Clarke to marry him

Ruling: Fact

The government thought Turing might be a Soviet spy

Ruling: Fiction

Turing underwent chemical castration after his conviction

Ruling: Fact

turned up the answers to all the fact/fiction items.

This is what I read in TIME, by Walter Isaccson

http://time.com/3596955/the-price-of-genius/

Alan Turing, the man who pioneered computing, also forced the world to question what it means to be human

Alan Turing, the intellectual father of the modern computer, had a theory. He believed that one day machines would become so powerful that they would think just like humans. He even devised a test, which he called “the imitation game,” to herald the advent of computers that were indistinguishable from human minds. But as Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance in the new movie The Imitation Game shows, Turing’s heroic and tragic life provides a compelling counter to the concept that there might be no fundamental difference between our minds and machines.

based on the book by Andrew Hodges: Alan Turing: The Enigma.
now I want to read the book.

There was an interview with Hodges last week on NPR also on pacifica. The one on Pacifica can be heard here:
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/podcast/letters-politics-kpfa-94.1/id406769844?mt=2

Either 12/30 or 12/31


https://itunes.apple.com/nz/podcast/letters-politics-kpfa-94.1/id406769844?mt=2

Benedict Cumberbatch's performance was superb.

Cumberbatch was fantastic.

Brought a tear to my eye at the end.

What a great movie.
After that I watched American Sniper. Another good movie. Great performance by Bradley Cooper, but the ending was kind of abrupt.
You can find a lot of great movies for free at this site:
http://www.thedarewall.com/tv/ . Go to the boxoffice pull down and browse all the available films.

From my couch!

But I watch on a different site.

Watched Boyhood last night and started Wild today but didn't finish.

LOVED BOYHOOD!

I disliked the ending to American Sniper and I hated Sienna Miller. Thought it was good but not great. Cooper was outstanding.