I don't like how much it alters the real history, but if the movie was fun for anyone, get some good books about the same events and you are in for even more fun! It wasn't just "Break the code, done" in real life, there was back and forth math and engineering battles, it was great stuff.

Turing talking all weird was also not real, but him being good at running was, in fact he was maybe olympian potential in that era.

I think it's pretty terrible that Turing was portrayed as Cumberbatch's standard asshole genius when as far as I know he was quite likeable. And there was next to zero depiction of his sexuality when he was a famous gay martyr.

> And there was next to zero depiction of his sexuality when he was a famous gay martyr.

I'll say it, but the movie was straight up homophobic, the whole plot about him being blackmailed about being gay and that he yielded to it is just prejudiced, implying he cared more about himself than the war effort (it never happened in real life).

I didn't like the movie or Cumberbatch's portrayal, but not sure what you mean here. Turing being gay was definitely a significant part of the plot. It comes up quite a bit and the movie literally ends with him being discovered and being forced to take the "medication".

That's about it though. Even the romantic subplot is with a woman.

There were running flashbacks to him being in love with his childhood friend. And the "romantic" subplot also heavily features him being gay and therefore not actually able to marry her.

Right, but the film was structured in a traditional Hollywood way with a love story subplot with a woman which is a bizarre choice when it's about a gay man. The author of the biography the film was based on said their relationship was exaggerated for the film.

I guess my point is that the movie was clearly sympathetic to his situation as a gay man. They exaggerated lots of things and the entire thing was overdramatized and poorly written, but I just don't think it's correct to argue that they minimized that issue.

Is there a better documentary (or book)?

Just read Hodges' biography "Alan Turing: The Enigma". It's definitive. If you have not seen "The Imitation Game" I urge you not to see it. It's a awful piece of crap that goes so far astray from the truth that it's a travesty.

Too late, unfortunately. I actually loved that movie (not for itself in particular, I just like that genre of movie, along with Beautiful Mind, Hidden Figures, etc.)

But it's sad to know it's so inaccurate, beyond basic dramatic licenses. I'll pick up the book and get the real version instead. Thanks for the recommendation! I learned something today.

I remember The Secret Life of Bletchley Park by Sinclair McKay being very interesting, and that was my first real introduction to Bletchley Park.

The Enigma is probably the best biography I've read, though that's specific to Turing

Agreed, it's a very good book.

There's an article here on the film and it's various inaccuracies...which was based on the Enigma book, apparently... https://slate.com/culture/2014/12/the-imitation-game-fact-vs....

Based on in the loosest sense apparently, from TFA:

" I read the masterful biography that the screenplay is based on, Andrew Hodges’ Alan Turing: The Enigma, to find out. I discovered that The Imitation Game takes major liberties with its source material, injecting conflict where none existed, inventing entirely fictional characters, rearranging the chronology of events, and misrepresenting the very nature of Turing’s work at Bletchley Park. "

Good article. Thanks! Convinced me to pick up the book.