AmateurMovieReviews.com

By Simon Woodhouse

World War II movies that don't contain scenes of conflict are few and far between. Even scarcer still are films in the same genre that don't even take place in one of the main theatres of war. It's easy to see why this is - battlefield scenes make for exciting movies. However, the outcome of such a massive conflict as WWII was just as much influenced by events that took place far from the war zone, as it was by the combat itself. Enigma is a movie that tries to show this aspect of the war. It's a tale of unsung heroes, and as such is told in a very down-to earth fashion. But that's not to say it doesn't contain just as much insight into the conflict as the more gung-ho stories do, it's just focusing on a different, but nonetheless important facet of the hostilities.

Set in and around Bletchley Park (though not actually filmed there), the British code breaking facility located in the Northamptonshire countryside, the film cleverly weaves two different stories around one character. Tom Jericho (Dougray Scott) is a code breaking genius, but intelligence such as his comes at a price. Whilst part of a team who cracked an earlier code, he pushed himself to the point of having a nervous breakdown. Now his help is needed again, so he's brought back to Bletchley Park even though he's barely recovered from his previous ordeal. To make matters worse, the British Secret Service suspect there's a spy within the ranks of the code breakers, and they've sent Agent Wigram (Jeremy Northam) to try and sniff him out. This story of potential espionage forms one half of the tale surrounding Tom. The other plotline involves an attempt to unravel the secrets of the enigma machine, a clever device invented by the Nazis for sending and receiving coded messages. It's vital the code breakers understand the latest German communications, in order to save Allied shipping from Nazis submarines.

As Tom tries to find a way into the enemy codes, he's implicated in the spy ring by his earlier involvement with Claire Romilly (Saffron Burrows), a pretty young girl who used to work a Bletchley. Claire broke Tom's heart, something that also contributed to his breakdown. Now he's back at Bletchley he wants to see her again, but she's gone missing, a sinister turn of events that further adds to her implication in something underhand. Claire's best friend Hester (Kate Winslet), is also concerned for her whereabouts. Together Tom and Hester form an unlikely alliance intent on trying to find out exactly what's happened to Claire.

The film quickly turns into a mystery reminiscent of such classics as The 39 Steps and North By Northwest (both Hitchcock masterpieces). Told partly in flashbacks, and partly in the here-and-now, the movie never becomes confusing. Each different time frame is easy to appreciate due to Tom's mental condition. In the here-and-now he's teetering on the edge of another breakdown, whilst in the flashbacks he's madly in love with Claire.

Clever in its use of good guys and bad guys, the movie portrays the British Secret Service as the nasty men in black. Tom and Hester, using nothing more than there own intuition and risking serious consequences if they're caught, struggle to try and find Claire before Agent Wigram can get his hands on her. Because the audience learn what's happening as Tom and Hester do, it's not long before this film draws you in. Dougray Scott and Kate Winslet display a genuine chemistry, and it's their performances that carry the film. Kate Winslet's character is also the exact opposite of that portrayed by Saffron Burrows - she's dowdy, plain and unassuming. But she's got a real spark and ultimately outshines her more gorgeous co-star.

As the film progresses the two storylines become more intense. The pressure on the code breakers to decipher the Nazis messages moves up a notch, when the Allies realize the largest supply convoy ever sent across the Atlantic is heading straight toward the largest ever concentration of U-boats, but they've no idea where the subs are. At the same time, Tom and Hester realize Claire probably was involved in sending secrets to the Nazis, but Agent Wigram is breathing down their necks at every turn.

Some smashing dialogue, especially the banter between Tom and Hester, helps the film move along at a cracking pace. Considering there's very little 'action' as such, it's certainly not a dull movie. The Big Brother aspect of the British Secret Service turn them into really menacing bad guys. This aspect of the story is highlighted all the more by Tom and Hester's risk taking in order just to find Claire.

On the strength of this movie, Dougray Scott really should be further up the ladder of fame. Kate Winslet (always good), is perfectly cast in the role of Hester, and what's more she doesn't need to assume a fake British accent to play the part. Saffron Burrows isn't really the equal of these two, but luckily hers is only a minor role and becomes less important as the film goes on. Jeremy Northam's portrayal of the caddish Agent Wigram is spot on. He's all smiles and charm, but underneath you just know he's not to be messed with.

If gung-ho war movies are your thing, then Enigma probably isn't for you. But if you love all those old Hitchcock gems, and lament the fact 'they don't make them like that anymore', then I think you'll be just as fond of this film as I am.