There’s no connection between these two films. Though my opinion going in was reversed in both cases.
I thought The Imitation Game would be maudlin historical fiction, but due to Benedict Cumberbatch’s genuine portrayal and Kiera Knightley fantastic as his beard, I was truly moved. I don’t, however, think it was best picture worthy and here’s why: the beginning scared me with its super math and technology relates and I worried this was going to be “Tinker Taylor Soldier Closet Hanger” where I was left confused and bewildered. Fortunately, the movie kicked into a character study, instead of physics and math lessons.
As for 50 Shades of Grey, I thought how bad can a movie about kinky sex be? I had seen the Rotten Tomatoes percentage at 29%, but held off reading reviews in order to form my own opinion. I now get it: it’s 29% because that’s how hot the movie was. I saw more action in Laggies (an on demand feature starring Sam Rockwell and Kiera Knightley). 50 Shades was a feel good movie, though, as I breathed a sigh of relief that any physicality I’ve experienced is ten times as satisfying. As Marc Maron said on his WTF podcast (#580 Kevin Allsion) recently, “I feel good just being able to come well.” Here, here.
