Benedict Cumberbatch in "The Imitation Game"

[Arcadia]

Plus, let's admit it ... BC's in it. :lol:

 

I do want to see both Selma and Mr. Turner, though. I find stories about the civil rights movement very uplifting, and Turner's one of my favorite artists (although I'm leery of the R-rating; I do not need to know how he engaged in sex, how foul his language was, or how gory he looked during a fight to enjoy a movie about him. Just the opposite, in fact!)

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I think that the Civil Rights movement was a very important part of our social history and it still is. I'm very glad that they made Selma and I hope it does win some awards since it did get pretty well snubbed by the Academy. But I still don't know if I would pay to see it.

[T.o.b.y]

as if realism was the primary goal of entertainment. I've never understood that kind of thinking; if I want reality, folks, I'll go outside, not to a movie theater.

 

Yes, in principle, that's how I feel, too. I've never seen the point in fiction (or art) that just documents. If you have the power to create, then why not use it to the full? And why not add something good and beautiful to the world while you're at it? I can't stand those kind of intellectual people who turn up their noses at anything that isn't ugly and provocative. (Not that I mind provocative, but it has to have a purpose beyond shock value).

 

The problem for me, however, is that I find it harder and harder to do that suspension of disbelief thing. I need a lot of help from good acting and a plausible script to make me accept the better-than-real world of fiction as not too good to be true.

 

I think the more realistic you make your work, the easier it is for the audience to become emotionally engaged, at least that's how it is for me. The trick is to use rules we know and accept from real life to tell a story that actually transcends them.

 

So "realistic" is a word of praise in my eyes, yes. But I only value realism as means to an end. Like you say, if I just want to see the real world, I go outside.

 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

(For anyone who may not be familiar with the American system of "rating" films; PG-13 means some content (sex, language or violence) may be "unsuitable" for children under 13; R means the sex, language or violence is so offensive that anyone under 17 has to have a parental unit with them in case they faint.)

In case the parents faint, I assume you mean.  :D 

 

That's why I seldom go to movies like Selma, Amelia Earhart, or any other documentary type movie. If I wanted realism I would read the newspapers and I really don't want to go to the movies to do that. I want entertainment.

I'm torn regarding Selma.  I guess I need to read some reviews and see how historically accurate it is, because I'm concerned that it may be largely revisionist, and I would hate that.  I wanted so badly to go to Selma for the third march, the big one, but my parents wouldn't let me (which is what parents are for, of course, protecting their kids).  If I had been there, I'd be OK with seeing the movie regardless, because my own memories would be strong enough.  As it is, my memories are second-hand already, so I'd like to preserve them.

 

[Arcadia]

 

(For anyone who may not be familiar with the American system of "rating" films; PG-13 means some content (sex, language or violence) may be "unsuitable" for children under 13; R means the sex, language or violence is so offensive that anyone under 17 has to have a parental unit with them in case they faint.)

In case the parents faint, I assume you mean.  :D

 

But of course! :D

 

I'm torn regarding Selma.  I guess I need to read some reviews and see how historically accurate it is, because I'm concerned that it may be largely revisionist, and I would hate that.  I wanted so badly to go to Selma for the third march, the big one, but my parents wouldn't let me (which is what parents are for, of course, protecting their kids).  If I had been there, I'd be OK with seeing the movie regardless, because my own memories would be strong enough.  As it is, my memories are second-hand already, so I'd like to preserve them.

We were living overseas for most of that period, we were barely aware it was going on. I remember starting to read about it when I was older and how shocked I was.

 

I've read complaints about how they portray King and Lyndon Johnson as being at odds, when Johnson was actually pretty supportive. Other than that I haven't really heard much about it except for the Oscar "snub."

[Carol the Dabbler]

We were living overseas for most of that period....

As long as we're off-topic anyhow, where were you living?

[Arcadia]

Thailand, Korea, side trips to Cambodia and Japan, and Washington State. (About as far from Selma as you can get in the USofA! ) My Dad was working for the Fulbright program, it was a good time to be overseas, when Americans were still beloved for their generosity and idealism. The Thai were especially wonderful to us. I had really fair hair back then, they were utterly fascinated by me.

 

On our trip home from Thailand we flew near Bletchley Park, so we're not off topic. :p (But boy, were our arms tired!) :D

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

[sfmpco]

Graham Moore interview.

 

http://www.thewrap.com/imitation-game-writer-on-benedict-cumberbatch-keira-knightleys-doomed-gay-straight-romance-exclusive-video/

[sfmpco]

New? Interview on TIG.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9yrgj5idI0#t=72

[sfmpco]

A little bit of Sophie news today...

 

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG11377032/Benedict-Cumberbatchs-fiancee-Sophie-Hunter-gets-the-Anna-Wintour-seal-of-approval.html

[joanneta1]

From now on, I shall take everything Mycroft says as having a double meaning and not to be relied on!

In SoT, he taunts Sherlock about coincidence, that the universe is never so lazy!

But in the make-believe world of series and film-making it apparently is!

Having watched HLV and not being able to watch the airstrip scene with a detached eye, I decided to turn to Raffles, a series which began when BC was only a glimmer in his parents' eye, and Charles Dance, Commander Denniston at Bletchley Park, played Teddy Garland, when BC was not even two years old, in Mr Justice Raffles, the exact episode which is so much like Charles Augustus Milverton, and he plays the person for whom Raffles is almost ready to kill a blood-sucking moneylender, and is saved from doing the actual deed by another embittered customer.

Coincidence, coincidence!

[sfmpco]

From now on, I shall take everything Mycroft says as having a double meaning and not to be relied on!

In SoT, he taunts Sherlock about coincidence, that the universe is never so lazy!

But in the make-believe world of series and film-making it apparently is!

Having watched HLV and not being able to watch the airstrip scene with a detached eye, I decided to turn to Raffles, a series which began when BC was only a glimmer in his parents' eye, and Charles Dance, Commander Denniston at Bletchley Park, played Teddy Garland, when BC was not even two years old, in Mr Justice Raffles, the exact episode which is so much like Charles Augustus Milverton, and he plays the person for whom Raffles is almost ready to kill a blood-sucking moneylender, and is saved from doing the actual deed by another embittered customer.

Coincidence, coincidence!

 

(Why is this in the BC thread and not a Sherlock thread?)

[J.P.]

 

From now on, I shall take everything Mycroft says as having a double meaning and not to be relied on!

In SoT, he taunts Sherlock about coincidence, that the universe is never so lazy!

But in the make-believe world of series and film-making it apparently is!

Having watched HLV and not being able to watch the airstrip scene with a detached eye, I decided to turn to Raffles, a series which began when BC was only a glimmer in his parents' eye, and Charles Dance, Commander Denniston at Bletchley Park, played Teddy Garland, when BC was not even two years old, in Mr Justice Raffles, the exact episode which is so much like Charles Augustus Milverton, and he plays the person for whom Raffles is almost ready to kill a blood-sucking moneylender, and is saved from doing the actual deed by another embittered customer.

Coincidence, coincidence!

 

(Why is this in the BC thread and not a Sherlock thread?)

 

I think it's shock talking. Where is the blanket!

[joanneta1]

Do either of you think that Charles Dance in the Imitation Game  and way back when in 1977, has anything to do with Sherlock?

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Well, no love for "The Imitation Game" at the BAFTA's today.  Bummer.

[sfmpco]

Well, no love for "The Imitation Game" at the BAFTA's today.  Bummer.

 

It was another complete shut-out, and the same thing is going to happen at the Oscars.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Probably, sadly.

[Arcadia]

 

Well, no love for "The Imitation Game" at the BAFTA's today.  Bummer.

 

It was another complete shut-out, and the same thing is going to happen at the Oscars.

 

I'm afraid you will be correct. :( I note it's been added to more theaters, though, so at least it's a commercial success, yes? Which I would think is more important for BC's career in the long run.

I probably shouldn't say this but I seriously hope American Sniper doesn't win instead.....

 

Hey, let's just remember, gang ... it's an honor just to be nominated! ;) And the audiences voted for it at the film fests, and we're more important than any ol' Hollywood insiders, right? :D

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Oh it's a box office block buster of sorts. It's budget was 15 million dollars and it's made over 139 million so far.  Oh yeah. It's garnered some hefty awards without a BAFTA or an Oscar. The critics like it as well giving it Best Movie of the Year billing early on. So the writer, producer, BC, Keira Knightly and the whole team can stand proud.

[Inge l-w]

Not to mention that it is a chicken and egg story, because without Turing's re programmable machine there would be no live, talking Stephen Hawking today, much less A Theory of Everything, but apparently the selectors are too mainstream to reward an openly gay character, so BC is getting a second-hand backlash of basic human homophobia. And Arcadia is probably right, because Uncle Oscar is more conservative still!

[Carol the Dabbler]

... apparently the selectors are too mainstream to reward an openly gay character, so BC is getting a second-hand backlash of basic human homophobia. And Arcadia is probably right, because Uncle Oscar is more conservative still!

 

I kinda doubt that's the cause, considering how well The Normal Heart has done.

 

[Arcadia]

 

... apparently the selectors are too mainstream to reward an openly gay character, so BC is getting a second-hand backlash of basic human homophobia. And Arcadia is probably right, because Uncle Oscar is more conservative still!

 

I kinda doubt that's the cause, considering how well The Normal Heart has done.

 

Yeah, I'm thinking if anything it's the other way around .... BC wasn't gay enough! :D

[sfmpco]

Yeah, the homophobia label is getting rather over-used and abused and isn't really applicable to the very politically liberal voting members of the Academy.

 

Those same members are also a little sentimental at times, and sometimes its about the length and body of and actor's career.  Keaton is the sentimental favorite.  It's between Keaton and Redmayne.

 

I'm actually glad Ben has not raked in all the awards.  It gives him more breathing room.  One of the important things about TIG was to show audiences that BC could carry a feature film.  This was not proven with the box-office bomb, The Fifth Estate.  That he can carry a film has now resulted in him being cast as Dr. Strange - a HUGE lead role in a HUGE franchise.

[Arcadia]

I'm nervous about Strange, though. It could be really cheesy in a way that Iron Man and the Avengers et al aren't ... because it's more fantasy, less sci fi, and it was never very humorous. Still, it could also be really awesome. Strange was my favorite Marvel character back in the ... uh, long ago times....  because he was so differet. But the magic bits could look really silly in live action. (In the comic it looked more like an LSD trip than anything! :D ) Hmmmm.