This movie had a one-liner reputation as a “gay movie,” and though it did tackle that crucial part of Alan Turing’s life, that description did not do it justice. This movie is so much more.
This is a movie about the loneliness of genius, the healing salve of friendship, and man’s drive to achieve greatness regardless of the sacrifice it requires.
Ang Kuwento:
Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, the film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain’s top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II. Written by Studio Canal
I dare not add anything to that summary written by Studio Canal because I want you, my dear reader, to experience this film firsthand.
Ang Maganda:
The actors. I wasn’t surprised to hear that the cast was nominated for the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Ensemble Cast. They didn’t just have the talented Benedict Cumberbatch/Sherlock (as Alan Turing). They also had the likes of Keira Knightley/Elizabeth Bennet (as Joan Clarke), Matthew Goode/Ozymandias (as Hugh Alexander), Charles Dance/Tywin Lannister (as Commander Denniston), and Mark Strong (as Stewart Menzies). Their chemistry as a cast was palpable. Truly, all of these brilliant actors gave their all to make this film as emotionally captivating as possible.
The tasteful writing. Alan Turing’s sexuality, his struggles with it, and what he had to suffer because of it, was media gold. In this day and age, writers gravitate toward this material and enjoy turning it into ticket sales. Take a look at 50 Shades of Grey. I doubt if they would consider sacrificing the controversial scenes to make way for character development. The screenplay writer, Graham Moore, did not indulge the unlearned audience’s tasteless interest in sex scenes. By expressing Alan’s homosexuality as a part of his character instead of its very definition, it was easier for the audience to focus on his work, his plight, and the cruelty of what he went through.
The cinematography and art direction. The colors used in this film were perfect and everything from what they wore to the props they used just added to the experience. Yes, I still would have been interested in this film if they opted to go for gray/black tones which was an easy choice for such a dramatic movie, but they were bold enough to use warmer tones like orange or red to draw the audience in. This also gave the colder tones on some of the last scenes more impact.
Ang Pangit:
I really can’t think of anything right now. It was just a really beautiful film.
Ang Paghuhusga:
This movie made me cry. They did a great job in turning Alan Turing into a three-dimensional character. A story like this could easily be turned into another “gay movie” that catered to Sherlock-Watson shippers, but they chose to turn it into a story of humanity and man’s varying definitions of it.
Talk about films that break your heart. Haaay… Gaya nga ng sinabi ng character ni Steve Carrell na si Dodge,
“I feel like I’m falling off a cliff with a bomb strapped to my chest.”
Yan ang eksaktong pakiramadam ko after watching this movie. Hanggang ngayon ay kinikilabutan parin ako at mabigat na mabigat ang loob dahil dito. At bago ako mag-curl up in my room to cry, isusulat ko na ang opinion ko about this.
Ang Kuwento:
Simple at straightforward ang opening scene ng pelikulang ito. It’s the same as the first shot sa trailer that I posted above. Dodge and his wife, Linda (Nancy Carrell) are sitting in their car listening to the radio. Maririnig nila ang balitang hindi naging matagumpay ang Armageddon (the film, not the Biblical prophecy)-like mission na pigilan ang isang asteroid na tumama sa Earth. So, in simpler terms, may tatlong linggo na lamang ang lahat para mabuhay.
After hearing this, Linda runs out of the car and out of Dodge’s life. Apparently, yun lang pala ang kinailangan niya para raw magkaroon ng sapat na tapang na iwanan si Dodge.
Samantala, habang nagkakapatong-patong na ang mga pangyayari at iba-iba ang nagiging pagtanggap ng mga tao sa inevitable doom nila ay makikilala ni Dodge ang kaniyang kapitbahay na si Penny (Keira Knightley). Siya ay isang kakaibang British girl na totally iba ang personalidad kay Dodge.
Di ko na ilalahad ang lahat. Panoorin niyo nalang. Basta may mag-iiwan din kay Dodge ng isang aso, si Sorry, na bida rin sa movie poster. Silang tatlo ni Penny ay maglalakbay upang gawin ang natatangi nilang nais magawa bago mawasak ang mundo. Si Dodge ay hahanapin ang highschool sweetheart niya na si Olivia habang si Penny naman ay hangad lamang na makauwi para makasama ang kaniyang pamilya (this is not an easy feat sapagkat kailangan nga naman ng eroplano upang makarating doon).
Ang Paghuhusga:
I definitely recommend this movie sa inyong lahat na higit sa 18 years old. Syempre dahil R naman talaga ang rating nito. Wag na muna sa mga bata dahil maaaring di pa nila alam ang definitive line ng realidad sa hindi at moral sa immoral. Higit sa lahat, di rin nila pwedeng panoorin ito dahil ma-rereinforce lamang ang kanilang konsepto ng YOLO.
Ang di kasi alam ng mga bata ay ang pwersa sa likod ng YOLO thinking ay hindi ang gawin ang lahat ng pwede at matripan mong gawin dahil isang beses ka lang mabubuhay. Ang tamang pagtingin dito ay dahil sa isang beses ka lang mabubuhay, gawin mo na ang lahat ng pwede at makakaya mong gawin para di ito masayang. Parang magkapareho no? Pero magkaiba yan.
Una kong bibigyan ng matinding slow clap ay ang writer at director ng movie na ito na si Lorene Scafaria. Oo, di siya masyadong kilala. In fact, di ito ang naging motivation ko para panoorin ang pelikula. I learned that she made this film after watching the movie. Dun lang ako napa-Ahhh. Kaya naman pala ganun din kahaba ang title.
Bakit? Dahil siya rin ang nagsulat sa isa ko pang gustong movie na Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (na BTW ay di ko rin nirerekomenda sa mga bata). Magaling siyang magtahi ng iba’t-ibang personalidad at karakter para makabuo ng isang magandang relationship. Di ko naman ididiskwento ang fact na bahagi nung realization ko ay ang slight na pagkalungkot dahil kung tutuusin ay halos magkahawig ang character ni Norah at Penny at ni Nick at Dodge. Free-spirited yung girl habang boring, nice guy naman yung boy. Pero di naman ibig sabihin na may pagkakahawig ay di ka na mag-eenjoy. Yung NaNIP ay medyo fantastic ang dating. I mean, gaano naman ka-posibleng mangyari ang lahat ng iyon sa loob ng isang gabi. Pero itong SAFFTEOTW, kahit literal na out-of-this-world ang posibilidad na tamaan tayo ng asteroid, ito rin ang naging daan para maging posible at mas totoo ang mga things that they got away with gaya ng pagtira sa isang bahay na di kanila.
Steve Carrell as Dodge Petersen
I know a lot of people love Steve Carrell dahil nakakatawa siya. Pero di naman ako masyadong malaking fan. Kasi naman ang introduction ko sa kaniya ay sa Evan Almighty na sa pananaw ko ay isang malungkot na follow up para sa epic na Bruce Almighty ni Jim Carrey. I also think na tulad ni Michael Cerra (na apparently ay nakatrabaho na rin ng writer), limitado ang characters na kaya niyang gampanan. Halos magkakapareho ang pagkatao niya sa Crazy Stupid Love, Date Night, at Evan Almighty. Pero it works for this movie dahil he’s just a normal person. Siya yung tipong madadaanan mo sa opisina araw-araw o kapitbahay mong di mo madalas makita. Ganun lang. Saktong-sakto bilang Dodge.
Kung gaano naman ka-keri lang ang aking opinion about Steve Carrell, ganun naman ako ka-passionate about Keira Knightley.
Keira Knightley as Penny Lockheart
I think she’s one of the actresses na kayang gawin ang lahat.
She’s in a LOT of my favorite movies at I’ve seen her play the most common characters to the most fantastic heroines nang may puso. She also has that distinctive accent and the amazing ability to stay pretty kahit nalulukot ang mukha sa pag-iyak. She makes me want to hug her pag umiiyak na siya.
At dito sa pelikulang ito ay binaon niya ang lahat ng ito. Ang bilis magpalit ng emosyon ni Penny and I can’t think of any other actress who can play this character. Well… the only other one I can think of is Kat Dennings na disqualified na dahil bata pa siya masyado at siya na si Norah sa NaNIP.
Ang nakakatuwa lang dito, alam mo na pero di mo parin alam kung ano ang mangyayari. Mapapaisip ka rin kung paano mo gugustuhing ubusin ang mga natitira mo pang araw sa mundo kung sakaling nasa ganoon kang sitwasyon. Pero tama si Dodge sa huling eksena.
Penny: But it isn’t enough time.
Dodge: It never would have been.
Totoo nga naman, di ba? Ang pagkakaiba lang nila ay alam nila kung kailan exactly sila mamamatay. Pero tayo man ay mauubusan din ng oras. So, kailangan din nating gamitin ang natitirang oras natin para gawin ang mga bagay na worth our while.
I love this movie dahil it made me want to do something. Nilagay nito ang mga bagay sa tamang perspektibo. Sabi nga sa Biblia,
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12 (NIV)
Wag naman sanang gaya nila Dodge at Penny ay huli na ang lahat bago natin maisip kung gaano kalaking oras ang ginugol natin sa mga bagay na di mahalaga. Sana rin, gaya nila Dodge at Penny, ubusin natin ang mga natitira nating oras sa piling ng mga tao who matter.
Piling Pelikula 