Enigma DVD > Reviews > SOYX SW I CWMZF NBZQ

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Good
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	Complex, interesting, well put together
Disadvantages:	Keep your head screwed on for gods sake !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Nope, I haven't learnt to speak fluent Russian, and the site hasn't broken! Above is my own little recreation of what the ENIGMA codes looked like. It hasn't been done by hammering the keyboard, but we'll talk about that later. You may remember tales of the ENIGMA machine from TV programmes like Station X, and the rather historically inaccurate U-571. But this film is more like Station X in it's foundation in historical accuracy, which really helps the film along.

- Delving into the past

The story of ENIGMA is an interesting and complex one. The ENIGMA codes were the codes used by German military in World War II to encode their communiqués so they wouldn't reveal themselves to Allied intelligence. However, thanks to the work of the geniuses at Bletchley Park (near Milton Keynes), the codes were cracked and we got a vital upper hand in the war. They weren't just cracked there of course, there were a series of events leading up to it, but I'll let you read about that for yourself at the Bletchley Park web site (www.bletchleypark.co.uk).

The ENIGMA codes were created using an ENIGMA machine. This used a complicated system of wires and rotors to create the code. The rotors were set, and the plugboard was, um, plugged, and then each key pressed would light up a letter on the back of the typewriter-like device which corresponded to the decrypted (or encrypted) letter. However, each press of the key would produce a different encoded letter – pressing Q three times might produce X, F and I. And since the rotors and plugboard could be in any number of settings, it was really difficult to crack. The title to this opinion was created using the Java Applet ENIGMA machine (http://www.ugrad.cs.jhu.edu/~russell/classes/enigma/), which is really quite fun to play with :) You can use rotor settings 1, 1, 6, and plugboard R, to see what it says!

The ENIGMA code was finally cracked using one of the first computers, called the Bombe, based on the principles laid down by father of computer science Alan Turing (all praise to him ;) ). It changed a few times, which more rotors being put in the machines and so on, and so Bletchley Park was keep furiously busy for the duration of the war. And then Churchill had all the information destroyed, because people around the world still used ENIGMA, and he gained a bit of an advantage if people didn't know that he knew about it.

- The plot

But enough of that – down to the film! Based on a book by Robert Harris, this is the story of Tom Jericho (Dougray Scott) and the events surrounding him at Bletchley Park. Tom is the genius who cracked ENIGMA for the first time, but after falling madly in love with co-worker Claire Romilly (Saffron Burrows) and being subsequently completely screwed over by her, he goes a bit mad, and is sent away. The film begins with him returning to Bletchley Park – ENIGMA has changed again and they need his help, and Claire has disappeared. So before long Jericho and Claire's housemate Hester Wallace (Kate Winslet) are investigating her disappearance, and all is not what it seems. Meanwhile, the crack team of codebreakers (no pun intended) are attempting to break the new code before convoys from America are sunk. In the midst of all this, Wigram (Jeremy Northam) is trying to unearth a mole in the Park. But remember, this is BEFORE all the twists start to happen!

- Realism

OK, so it's based on a novel, so it's not going to be 100% accurate, but the story of ENIGMA and Bletchley Park is true, and the whole thing about the convoys is true too. You'll also discover about a terrible massacre as the plot goes on too, but don't be too flippant – it really happened. Obviously, the story of Claire and Jericho and the like are just the fictional parts, but the underlying historical events are true to life – unlike some submarine films I might mention :)

- Watchability

This film certainly requires you to have your head screwed on the right way. Unlike a lot of films these days, it doesn't rely on large explosions, superfluous love stories (the love story in this is more of a back story), and huge amounts of gore – it's just a great film with a superb plot. As I've already mentioned, there a huge numbers of twists, and you just think you've got it worked out when… ah, I wasn't expecting that! You'll lose the thread completely if you don't pay attention, and you'll be talking it over with your friends when you emerge from the cinema – making sure you understood everything just right!

A most important bit that I heard an interview about before going to watch the film, is how ENIGMA is portrayed. After all – it was bloody complicated, so it should seem that way. But how do you do this without alienating the audience or simply boring them to tears? Well, it's done superbly well in this film – you can see it's too complicated to understand how they are cracking it (in the most part), but you can just accept that and it doesn't take anything away from the film. Which is great.

- Acting

Kate Winslet plays an excellent part as the intelligent but often quite scatty Hester. She's the main star in the film, although relative unknown Scott is the main character, and he copes with this really well – you're always sitting there wondering if Jericho's going to lose it, or whether he did something or not. Very psychological. The surprise star of the film is Jeremy Northam as Wigram – his snide and upright character adds some occasional comedic relief to the proceedings, and he often steals the scene.

- Scenery

The majority of the film is based within the Park itself, but the filming wasn't done at the actual Bletchley Park. However, from the pictures I've seen, it would appear to have been really faithfully recreated, and each set has exactly the right feel about it. Even down the beautifully green and leafy English countryside and cottages. It looks a treat.

- Soundtrack

If you're a faithful follower of film scores like me, you'll immediately pick up the distinctive flowing sounds of the Enigma score. Listen closer and you might just figure out the composer. Yes, it's John Barry of Bond and Godfather fame, and he's done a sterling job here. Each track fits the mood of the scene perfectly, while drawing you in and keeping you there. Just how it should be.

- Bet you didn't know?

The film was co-produced by Mick Jagger! He certainly is a multi-talented chap, because this is a professional presentation. Apparently, he has a personal interest in the whole ENIGMA phenomenon, and so it was only natural that he should work on this film. Great!

- Overall

This is an absolutely superb film – the mood is right, the dialogue is right, and, over all, it makes me think for a change without being boring. It's always my judge that if I look at my watch during the film, I'm not absorbed enough, and I can guarantee you – I was surprised by the time when I came out! This is a film quite different to most around these days, and it certainly benefits from this. Now I've only got to wait for the video to come out!