The Last Enemy

February. 17,2008      
Rating:
7
Trailer Synopsis Cast

Researcher Dr. Stephen Ezard returns home to the UK after the reported death of his brother, Michael Ezard, only to find that his widow, Yasim Anwar, is harboring a wanted yet deathly ill illegal immigrant. Yasim, on the rebound from her husband's death, becomes very intimate with Stephen. But after the death of Yasim's immigrant friend, she disappears with the body, leaving more questions than answers. Stephen is then hired as a consultant and promoter of a new computer system, T.I.A. (Total Information Awareness). Using his expert computer skills, he secretly tracks down Yasim, unaware that he is a pawn in a government conspiracy.

Christopher Fulford as  George Gibbon
Geraldine James as  Barbara Turney
David Harewood as  Patrick Nye
Eva Birthistle as  Eleanor Brooke
Robert Carlyle as  David Russell
Anamaria Marinca as  Yasim Anwar
Max Beesley as  Michael Ezard
Benedict Cumberbatch as  Stephen Ezard

Reviews

Claysaba
2008/02/17

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

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Chirphymium
2008/02/18

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

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Portia Hilton
2008/02/19

Blistering performances.

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Caryl
2008/02/20

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

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blanche-2
2008/02/21

I really hate giving anything with Benedict Cumberbatch in it a 6, but this time I have to."The Last Enemy" has a brilliant premise that practically has happened - total information about everyone at all times in the UK. A mathematician, Stephen Ezard (Cumberbatch), who has been working ivory tower style in China, returns to England for his brother's funeral. There, he meets his brother's widow Yasim (the gamine Anamaria Marinca). In her unhappiness and loneliness, she reaches out to Stephen (it's Cumberbatch, who could resist) and he falls madly in love with her.Stephen's ex-girlfriend works for the government and recommends him to help with a new information system, TIA (Total Information Awareness), the ultimate information gatherer. With the job comes the promise of funding his work. Stephen uses his access to TIA to investigate what happened to his brother.Okay, that's sort of plot one. Plot two is a virus that's killing people in the middle east. It is impossible to discover the etiology of the virus because a) the bodies are destroyed immediately so no one can get a blood sample; and b) bioscientists are suddenly dying left and right.My major problem with this series is that the writer waited too long to meld these two plots. The other problem for me was Robert Carlyle, an excellent actor, but was he a good guy or a bad guy? I'm embarrassed to say I never figured it out.Otherwise, the story is chilling because it's becoming true. And the performances - Cumberbatch is perfection as a man forced into reality and absolutely terrified. I don't think I've ever seen a male character in anything act this frightened, but it is right on. He had great chemistry with Marinca, who did a fine job as well.Definitely worth seeing, though your attention may drift from time to time. This could have been a fantastic miniseries if it had been put together just a little better. Very thought-provoking nonetheless.

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RichardLBown
2008/02/22

You have to be focused/undisturbed/observant to watch this ( so far, I have viewed episode 1 only at 9pm). Up to par with all the other UK, BBC, PBS British mystery series .. etc. It re-broadcasts here in 2 hrs at 1am. So you can be sure that I will be tuned-in. Like a good book, a second reading reveals twists, comments and turns of a phrase missed in the first reading. Looking forward to the other episodes (weekly here).This is masterful, captivating, suspenseful and ladened with detail. Little text is needed, the actors' expressions convey well the mood and foreboding of the events to come.This series eclipses the violent/sadistic/illiterate/inane scripts we here are so often subjected to by the US media - British mystery remains unsurpassed; how can it fail ? It dominates.Enjoy !Best Regards

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siderite
2008/02/23

And it is not just because I am Romanian, either. I agree, the series is a bit slow at times; things happen that cannot possibly happen at others. But it is worth watching it till the last episode, which pretty much explains away most of the inconsistencies.Saying anything about the subject would spoil it, so I'll just say this: I have a friend who despises all corporate or governmental attempts to control the individual. If he would have seen this series, he would have paced nervously the whole time, cursing as he walks.It is medium budget UK/Romania coproduction about the perils of personal data processing in a not too distant future. Most of the things in the series is possible even now, if they would have more powerful cameras installed and a bunch of software analyzing every bit of data in real time.Bottom line: definitely worth watching, as one of the few quality series that are also believable, make a point and are also dark not all about how to make the audience comfy in their potato couches. And if Robert Carlyle plays in it, it is a must see.

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akraptor
2008/02/24

Because I have the part of a tali ban there, "Dark Glasses". Was working with David Harewood in the movie. Wore the infamous Bin Laden cap, and dark glasses. .doh. Clean-up operations, . .corpse dispatchers. . Filming it was such a great experience with Director Iain B MacDonald. Very hot weather, up there in the mountains. The crew was great and had a wonderful time there. Never met Robert Carlyle on set (because we had different filming locations and schedule, even though we where connected in the movie, through communication stuff, I mean a cellular phone..I missed the opportunity to talk to Max Beesley about his part in "Torque". He was too focused on his role and didn't dare to bother him. Was just curious. .don't know if I'll ever get a copy of this episode. Just let me know if Episode 3 is coming.Thanks,Dark Glasses

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