Benedict Cumberbatch: 5 Awesome Performances & 5 That Sucked

5 Awesome Performances

5. Alan Turing - The Imitation Game (2014)

Putting aside all empty accusations of Oscar-baiting, The Imitation Game is a quite stunning achievement because of how reluctant it is to cow to any politicised agenda, despite the urge - nay, the near obligation - to focus on one element of the story more.

The film, which is as grim and heart-breaking at times as it is uplifting and affirmative at others, is not a grotesque rake through the Tragedy Of Alan Turing's life - how he was failed, how he was abused and how he was singularly let down by everyone his work managed to save - it is a celebration of his genius.

As such, it consciously withholds part of itself, allowing it to bubble more under the surface and encouraging the audience to fill in the gaps - and it is a narrative device mirrored entirely in the central performance. Cumberbatch is subtle, restrained and extraordinary - detached somewhat in that regal/alien way he works so well and yet he is uncomfortably, devastatingly sympathetic.