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Enigma [DVD] [Widescreen] [2002] [Multilingual] [Region 1]

1 disc
Region 1 USA/CA (info)

Set in England during World War II, Michael Apted's ENIGMA follows bookish code-breaker Tom Jericho (Dougray Scott) through a whirlwind love affair with Claire Romilly (Saffron Burrows), a seductive blonde clerk, and his subsequent recovery from a mental breakdown caused by the relationship. As Tom begins to pick up the pieces of his sanity, he is reinstated by his former employers at Bletchley Park, a secret agency that intercepts transmissions from German U-boats and decodes them for use in the Allied cause. When a suave government agent (Jeremy Northam) investigates Bletchley in search of a suspected spy and the now-missing Claire, Tom takes matters into his own hands and enlists the help of Claire's roommate, the seemingly prim Hester Wallace (Kate Winslet). Together Tom and Hester begin to unravel a mystery that goes extends across continents and allegiances. Apted's WWII thriller, based on the novel by Robert Harris and screenplay by Tom Stoppard, is a well-crafted period piece that successfully transports the audience to 1940s Britain. Scott and Winslet are compelling in their roles as intellectuals forced into action, and Northam exudes a rakish charm during his appearances. The film's secret weapon, however, is the plot, which gets more and more intriguing as the story progresses. In the end, even the most astute viewers will be surprised by ENIGMA's finale.
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- Rating - a sex scene and language
Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 08734
Credits

Jeremy Northam, Kate Winslet, Dougray Scott, Saffron Burrows, Corin Redgrave, Tom Hollander, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Nikolaj Waldau
Critic Reviews

"...It's a striking debut....The film is mind-twisting fun with first-rate performances..."
Rolling Stone
"...Northam is particularly vivid....Winslet is engaging....ENIGMA is a thoughtful, provocative drama..."
Movieline's Hollywood Life
"...ENIGMA crackles with Michael Apted's vigorous, perceptive direction....A complex, meticulous period re-creation down to the tiniest detail....ENIGMA is a clever blend of fact and fiction..."
Los Angeles Times
"...Spies, romance, and a lot of interesting info about the real-life Enigma code-breakers..."
Chicago Sun-Times