Aakash Dhruva
6. 12 Years A Slave (2013)
Fassbender, Pitt, Ejiofor and Cumberbatch. That is the dream cast of any director. A critically acclaimed movie of a free black man becoming a slave and finally becoming a human again. The role of Cumberbatch as William Ford- a sensible, caring white man but naïve in terms of the workings of the society, required innocence and richness which was subtly portayed by Cumberbatch. In a movie of stellar performances, the role of Ford is masked. But the versatility of Benedict Cumberbatch is visible in plain sight.
5. The Last Enemy (2008)
A 5 part Tv series set in a futuristic environment where Benedict Cumberbatch plays a shy, reclusive mathematician is stuff of genius. He overcomes his limitations to find out the whereabouts of his brother only to realise he is just a pawn in the hands of the manipulators he once loved and trusted. While one can argue the character is one-dimensional, Benedict Cumberbatch surpasses the barrier with his nonchalant acting skills.
4. The Fifth Estate (2013)
A thriller based on the life of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, it was only apt that Benedict Cumberbatch played the role of eccentric and mysterious Assange. The movie received mixed reviews, but the performance by Cumberbatch was praised by all. Many were of the opinion that The modulations in the voice, the jerky and stiff demeanour resembled the wikileaks’s founder. Business as usual for Benedict Cumberbatch then.
3. Doctor Strange (2016)
A marvel movie. The lead character an arrogant prick who later undergoes a transformation. set in a magical realm. this movie seemed destined to be Cumberbatch’s entry into the genre of superheroes. he easily portrays the role of an efficient neurosurgeon who loses his fine movements of fingers, only to regain from mystical arts. while the storyline was bare, Cumberbatch was once again his usual best and with further movies in store, we better watch him. Fun Fact: He also played the CGI Dormammu.
2. The Imitation Game (2014)
A biopic on the legendary mathematician Alan Turing, Benedict Cumberbatch cemented his status as the most bankable star of this generation. TIME magazine ranked Cumberbatch’s portrayal as one its Top 10 performances in 2015 and rightly so. He was emotionally tailored to the character, delicately nuanced and pleasantly eccentric which in the end left a lingering impression on the viewer. A symphony more than a movie, it was fitting tribute to Turing and its signalled that Benedict Cumberbatch was here to stay.
1. Sherlock (2010- ?)
How can any list now or in the near future can be complete without mentioning sherlock! A reclusive, arrogant detective who believes in solitude finds love is the most powerful weapon of all, it is more of a character’s journey than series of solving crimes. Cumberbatch lives the role and has infact become synonymous with sherlock. Ably supported by Martin Freeman’s Watson and taut screenplay and memorable dialogues, this tv series propelled Benedict Cumberbatch into the limelight and has shone their ever since.
Read More: Ed Harris Movies
