I'm very curious to see how The Weinstein Company's Oscar slate pans out. There's a lot of promise but who knows how the variables will come together. The line-up stretches from the high profile (Tim Burton's “Big Eyes”) to the somewhat obscure (Saul Dibb's “Suite Française”). Somewhere in between is Morten Tyldum's “The Imitation Game,” which has always struck me as perhaps the most likely to succeed, as it were.
The film tells the story of English mathematician Ala Turing, who helped crack the Enigma code during World War II and whose work went a long way toward the personal computer-infested lifestyle you enjoy today. Graham Moore's screenplay caused quite the stir when it hit the industry a few years ago, and indeed, it's a tightly drawn-up character study with a fascinating historical bent, and as well, a major opportunity for Benedict Cumberbatch in the role of Turing.
Speaking of which, Cumberbatch is on the cusp of really taking his career to the next level. Rumors are running rampant that he will be announced as Marvel's Doctor Strange at Comic-Con later this week and if he adds an Oscar nomination to his arsenal, 2015 could be a huge year for him. (He'll be appearing in Scott Cooper's “Black Mass” next fall.)
Meanwhile, the film has been announced as the opening night selection of this year's BFI London Film Festival. A shrewd move by TWC that will keep things buzzing on the other side of the pond after a likely premiere at the Toronto fest a few weeks earlier.
But we'll just have to see how things pan out on the awards landscape for this and other Weinstein players. Despite how well-regarded 2011's “Headhunters” may have been, I've always felt Tyldum was a curious choice for director on this film. Plus, TWC has lost a long-time awards strategist that has been with Harvey Weinstein since the Miramax days, so that could shake things up, too.
For now, though, two trailers for “The Imitation Game” offer a pretty thorough glimpse into the world of the film. Check out the domestic trailer at the top of this post and the UK trailer embedded below.
“The Imitation Game” hits theaters on Nov. 21.