Enigma
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Movie Reviews of Enigma
Movie Review: Cracking Code
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this in the theater when it first came out and recall being underwhelmed as I pretty much just ticked off the characters and events as I recalled them from Robert Harris' fine novel. I appreciated it, I suppose, but didn't really get into it.
Watching it (and re-watching it) now when I recollect little of the book, I really admire this film on it's on terms. It's a gorgeous production, well directed and edited with two creative geniuses -- Tom Stoppard & John Barry -- offering up their assured, if in this case, low-key mastery.
The first time I saw this I thought Dougray Scott kind of marred the picture, as he doesn't convey the charm or charisma you'd expect of a thriller's lead. But what he's really doing is playing the bittersweet, coming-of-age side of the role, and he's very effective. The scenes where his romantic disappointments lead him to shame himself both personally and professionally, are almost difficult to watch, they're so acute. Saffron Burrows, (essentially in the title role) is also very good in these scenes.
In contrast to Scott, Jeremy Northam plays the conventionally dapper spy with a rakish yet effete flippancy and he's sensational. And despite any efforts to dowdy-up Kate Winslet, she's completely adorable in what may be her most charming performance.
The details of the plot aren't so complicated that you can't follow them, but complex enough that you can't recall them clearly when re-watching.
Movie Review: An uncommonly fine film
Summary: 5 Stars
In retrospect, seeing in films such as this most recent superb ENIGMA all the sophistication of intelligence devices, communication scramblers, and networking of spies and counterspies used by the Germans in WWII, it is rather amazing that they lost the war. But then as this fine story reveals, the English were equally adept at decoding and undermining the German efforts. War is ugly and futile, but the mechinations that oil the brutal machine are morbidly fascinating. ENIGMA, in a fine script by Tom Stoppard and sensitively made visual by director Michael Apted, explains these complex phenomena adroitly. The movie is visually stunning, moving from the intricacies of the Intelligence machinery behind closed doors to the misty, wistful English countryside. It would be difficult to imagine a finer cast for these roles than Dougray Scott, Jeremy Northam, Kate Winslet, and Saffron Burrows. For an 'old-fashioned thriller' based on an intelligent, literate script rather than on the usual fire and explosions, treat yourself to this little gem.Movie Review: Good movie on a complicated theme
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very enjoyable movie which tries to be historically accurate and, at the same time, provides us with a personal touch. It is a film about the English breaking the enigma code of the Germans in World War II - most likely one of the decisive "victories" of the Allies in that war.If you are into spy movies connected to World War II combined with a personal story of the codebreakers, buy it. The actors do a very fine job.
A last remark: finally the credit for this decisive "victory" goes to the ones who deserve it, the British counter-intelligence.
Movie Review: A BRILLIANT, ENTERTAINING, LITERATE FILM
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the best films of all time. A Stoppard-ian cast of characters, intriguing plot and characters that draw you in. It is all comprehensible but if you look away from the screen for 30 nseconds, you may lose track of the story. Even more interesting to watch a second time to see how the screenplay works. More than any other film, this one comes closest to music - parts of it are rhapsodic/sumphonic as you see the various parts come together and intertwine. Obviously conceived and realized by master craftsmen and women.Movie Review: Better than the book
Summary: 5 Stars
The movie was released here in the US on limited release (couldn't find it in the SE at all), and so I read the book last summer. Rarely have I found a movie that even matches the book, but this screenplay was so artfully edited from the book that I feel it actually is *better* than the book. And how many of us have seen the old enigma machines??? <G> Taut, well written, excellent acting, very British - buy it! I don't think you'll be disappointed at all.