The film The Imitation Game
received eight Oscar nominations Thursday morning, including best
picture and best adapted screenplay.
In the film, Benedict Cumberbatch (Star
Trek Into Darkness, 12 Years a Slave, August: Osage County) plays
Alan Turing, a brilliant mathematician who helped crack the German
Enigma machine code – a triumph of computer science and a turning
point for the Allies in World War II. After Turing acknowledged that
he was gay, the British government sentenced him to two years of
chemical castration. Turing is believed to have committed suicide.
The Imitation Game is considered
a front-runner in the best picture category. Also nominated were
American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, The Grand
Budapest Hotel, Selma, The Theory of Everything and
Whiplash.
Cumberbatch's performance earned him
his first-ever best actor nomination. The Academy also recognized
Keira Knightley, who plays cryptanalyst Joan Clarke in the film,
handing her her second best supporting actress nomination.
The Lonely Island and out duo Tegan and
Sara were nominated for their hit song Everything is Awesome,
which is featured in The Lego Movie.
Out actor Neil Patrick Harris will host
the 87th Academy Awards on ABC February 22.