MovieChat Forums > The Last Enemy (2008) Discussion > Bad acting?

Bad acting?

posted 15 years ago by citizenafrica
9 replies | jump to latest

Granted, I'm only about 20 minutes into the first episode, but the whole thing gives off this vibe of cheap acting. For example, Stephen Ezard constantly hopelessly staring off into the distance even when there's no reason to (and he reminds me of a bad mix of Ryan Reynolds and Zachary Quinto).

Also, I thought the plot of a surveillance society was a cool idea, but it'd be a lot cooler if it were about how current surveillance could be abused rather than a sci-fi, futuristic spin.

And just in general, it has the vibe of one of those Christian apocalyptic films with bad acting...like in one of the first scenes you see those soldier dudes in black jogging through the airport in single-file. You see that in almost every bad sci-fi type films, it seems. Like when was the last time you saw a group of three soldiers jog through an airport on a "mission?" It just seems stupid.

I would like it a lot more if they took the same plot, put it in a more realistic "now" scenario based on current surveillance, and mixed in the good acting from series like Prime Suspect.

Maybe I'm the only one. I'll stick it out though, I still have about an hour of the first episode to see.

[–] assenav_68 13 years ago

I thought Cumberbatch was very good. He could show how closed off his character was with his body language. He rarely looks up when he is walking, he seems to fold in on himself as if he is trying to protect himself, when he is walking with the clock he clutched it as if his life depended on it, he doesn't care about TIA so it looks like he has zoned out and is totally disengaged during the meetings.

One question, though. Would someone with OCD want to engage in sex? It's so messy and I don't understand why he didn't run to the shower afterwards.

[–] CitizenCairParavel 13 years ago

very good acting.

[–] Sherlocksboy 12 years ago

I agree assenav. I didn't buy the sex scene at all, and was very surprised that he didn't rush into the shower. The man practically washed his hands off because a corpse farted on him.

[–] polyscygyrl 12 years ago

As someone with OCD, I'll speak for the majority of the crowd and say sex is fine. The unbelievable scene is where he touched the faucet in the airplane lav with his bare hands, especially AFTER washing!!

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Writ_in_Water 10 years ago

I would guess there are different kinds of OCD, whether sex-aversive, faucet-aversive, etc. No catch-all, as it were.

I thought Cumberbatch's acting was exemplary.

[–] Camargue 8 years ago

" . . . he seems to fold in on himself . . . "

assenav: Concur! You made some cogent points about Cumberbatch and his ability to connect with the audience in his raging paranoia.

It seems as if he physically "hurts" with his extreme uneasiness with life itself.

***

Your comments about "sex" really nailed a part of the series that I found simply impossible.

The notion that this person, who is SO ill at ease about "life" itself and his inability to be part of "society in general" would be ALL OVER his brother's WIDOW is so far beyond a reasonable reaction, as to be ridiculous.

This is when "contrived" story lines become sadly impossible in their desire to be "all things to all people."

Sex does NOT have to be a component in EVERY relationship!

In fact, if they had FIRST formed a partnership, and worked together in solving the mystery, with ZERO sex, and little awareness of each other, it would have INCREASED the "sexual tension" that could have been introduced SLOWLY, which is how it (logically) would have happened, if it happened at all.

I have worked with (at least) half a dozen wonderful men, over the years, and have developed close friendships, and formed great partnerships, while working on joint projects, and NEVER had "sex" enter the equation.

WHY do movies "cheapen the storyline" by casually throwing in PASSIONATE SEX as if it is to be expected? With his EXTREME OCD, he should have been HORRIFIED (as in running away) when she flagrantly "threw herself" at him, given that she is his BROTHER'S WIDOW! His OCD presented many opportunities that were ignored / wasted. Cumberbatch is a great actor and deserved better support in these areas.

[–] p_chamney-534-910364 9 years ago

The acting's great. The look of it may throw a viewer at first, but it's my sense that it's at least partly intentional. Overall, it really overcomes any initial hesitancy I had, pretty quickly. Great story, well-told.

[–] 8 years ago

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