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Nice presentation of today's possibilities in a controlled, democratic society...

George Orwell's '1984' in a more actual setup... Big brother is watching us, and who is watching the watchers ? Lots of action and nice punchlines, Lawyer chased by faulty NSA people, if you take away the nice sauce of an action movie, you see a quite realistic view of the possibilities of today. What is filed about you, who is watching it, and where they can use it for, how they can control and spoil your life... The play is nice, but an American action movie, crashing cars and exploding buildings. Worth going to see ! But more as a very viewable documentary on today's hi-tech world.

Not the smartest thriller, but an intelligent action film.

There is one scene in Ridley Scott's otherwise dreary "Bladerunner" that has stayed with me. It's the scene where Harrison Ford uses a computer to zoom in and in (and in) on a photograph, until he discovers an important clue. It wasn't the first time it was done ("Blow-up", of course) but the digital aspect gave it an immediacy that was quite exciting. I remember thinking, however, that the image couldn't have contained that much information - a silly thought considering it was a futuristic drama - but I had time to think about it and to challenge it's authenticity.Tony Scott's "Enemy of the State" plays with real-time digital and satellite technology so convincingly that you don't really have time to disbelieve it - it's happening before your very eyes. It has such a propulsive forward momentum that it's hard to dislike - it's never boring, which is almost reason enough to recommend it (how many Hollywood films have you seen recently that weren't boring?).People have been criticising it for not being in the same league as films like "The Conversation", but I don't really think that's the point - it may not be the most intelligent of paranoia thrillers, but for an action film (which it more closely resembles), it's quite intelligent indeed (did any of you SEE Independence day, Godzilla, Armageddon etc ?).

Truly Brilliant!!!

I saw this movie on a full home-DVD home cinema set and it was awesome. This movie won't let you be bored for a single second. Tons of action ans suspense. Will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole movie.

this movie was excellent

This movie was exciting to watch - full of action and has a fantastically intreging storyline. I want to know however, why Seth Green's name wasn't in the credits!! (also featured in such shows as Buffy (oz) and can't hardly wait (kenny)) He had a larger part than the character Mr Wu for example, and he made it on the credits. This was my only dissapointment in the movie - so it's obviously a fab flik :)

It could'a been more...

I love the cast in this film. Hackman and Smith have done some really excellent work. While I generally enjoyed this film for what it was, it could have been much more. I am somehow reminded of "Conspiracy Theory" in that it was a disappointment considering the possibilities it offered. Mostly, the problem is in the basic premise of the story. Any one of thousands of conflicts could have been played out, but instead, we see a personal crime in Voigt's character taken out on an unsuspecting citizen. This may sound minor, but we could have seen a glimpse of some big-brother massacre, and the minor hero who overcomes it. Some of what is offered here makes you wonder (in worried fascination) what is possible, but generally I can say this is NOT a must-see movie. If you saw Conspiracy Theory, don't bother with this one. I give it 3 stars in case you didn't catch Conspiracy Theory, otherwise, 2 stars.

Excellent Movie Must See

It has a great actor like Will Smith, if any one is suspicious of the goverment this will just add fuel to the fire.

The Quintessential Thriller For the Information Age

Screenwriter David Marconi uses the thriller milieu to assault an America in which subversive computers tap our phones for trigger words. Will Smith showed early promise as an actor in his lead role as a D.C. lawyer named Robert Dean whose life is ripped apart because he has evidence that a congressman was murdered for going up against a bill that would enable the US government to spy on its citizens. Unrealistically, the noble congressman is mentioned as a Republican.It's not the government that is the enemy, the script contends, so much as officials and bureaucrats who exploit the power of their positions to increase their own ends and cover their footprints. Jon Voight's murderous NSA official is actually acting in his own personal interest, doing anything he has to do to get a communications bill passed that will make his job easier and more lucrative. He has the congressman murdered because he's the crucial opponent. Everything else unfolds from the murder conspiracy.This, the quintessential thriller for the information age, was directed by Tony Scott, who films technology the only way that doesn't diminish the charm of the film. As Will Smith's Robert Dean ducks through Washington, struggling desperately to decipher his sudden assailants, the story is unraveled before us with video recording from spy satellites, surveillance cameras, audio devices, bugs, wiretaps and other such domestic gadgets. As with nearly every Tony Scott film, no shot seems to last more than two or three seconds.This enormously entertaining spy film is as briskly paced as one could ever expect, gathering around two hyperkinetic chase sequences, and coming to a head in a cunning deception that initiates a signature Tony Scott sense-bashing, ultraviolent shootout. Though the double- cross is clever and the gunfight is extremely intense, the situation borders dangerously nearby ludicrous, for a film that has made such an effort to be taken seriously. In its action and violence it is in too much of a rush to be much of a character film, but then that complements its paranoia.On the whole, it succeeds. Aside from its central characters, Enemy of the State seems crowded with stars who, at the time, had yet to be stars, playing bit roles of all kinds: Seth Green, Jack Black, Jason Lee, Jamie Kennedy, James LeGros, Jake Busey, and Scott Caan, and fleeting roles by established stars like Gabriel Byrne, Jason Robards, Lisa Bonet and Stuart Wilson. Will Smith is sincere and human as a virtuous lawyer who is sucker-punched by the abused muscle of the nation. Gene Hackman, as I am coming to realize is his secret to such consistently persuasive and charismatic performances, feels outright doubtless of every line of dialogue and every nuanced action. Voight's bureaucrat seems firm in his mind that his work by some means transcends the law, resounding the true echo of more or less the entirety of neo-Conservative politicians in America. "We are at war 24 hours a day!" "You think we're the end of democracy? I think we're democracy's last hope!"

A Vested Interest

I kinda like this Wil Smith guy. In this film he plays another adrenaline-rushed-on-the-run-from-the-bad-guys type hero. We've seen it before of course in his previous exploits (see ID4, MiB, BadBoys), but Jerry Bruckheimer certainly does know how to keep you watching - excellent effects and some good support from Gene Hackman.

And yes...he does get to run around in his vest. Again.

A Great Thriller

Enemy of the State proves to be as intelligent as it is exciting. Will Smith proves that he can act and Gene Hackman does a wonderfull job in his role(as does John Voit). Enemy of the State is definatly worth checking out and one of the best thrillers in a long time.

Okay for action. Acting not very convincing.

Ever see a movie that takes you so far that you actually see the characters as someone really talking in front of you? Will Smith, Lisa Bonet and Tom Sizemore (amongst the others), are acting too hard. They weren't convincing enough to make me feel like they were real characters. Again, the action was great. But the acting was contrived and predictable.

Big Brother has the technology and it's scary.

I saw "Enemy of the State" over the Thanksgiving weekend. Overall the movie is well thought out, realistic enough in how the technology is used (and abused), and how the characters are developed. The one questionable exception to this is the role played by Gene Hachman. He's apparently an ex-NSA operative who, some 15-20 years ago got a raw deal but has accepted that it was nobody's fault and bears no grudges towards the agency. Yet he's gone underground, cutting himself off from society, yet staying up on the latest hi-tech developments in surveillance. Do people like this really exist? Still Hackman is so good an actor that he breathes believability into any role he plays. What made the biggest impression on me was the portrayal of the power an individual who you will never meet or see can know so much about you and do so much to you with very little effort or concern. As in "Mercury Rising" the big bad man is some over achieving, remorseless NSA division chief with his own agenda. Somehow he manages to instill so much loyalty into his small group of techies and bag men that they will steal, violate, and even kill at his command. The movie is definitely worth the price of the ticket if you like hi-tech action flicks. If not, then renting the video will not diminish the content very much. I gave it an 8 because of the superb acting, the believability, the timing of the action, and the script. It should be doing better than it is for this time of year, but the audience nitch is just a little too focused.

I liked this movie

I enjoyed Enemy of the State. It's what Mission Impossible should have been. This is one of the better high-tech thrillers.

Slick action film will keep the audiences enthralled in awe.

A tautly made, smart and slick thriller blessed with credibility and intelligence.Robert Clayton Dean (Will Smith) is a happy, financially successful man with a beautiful wife (Regina Kind) and handsome son (Jascha Washington). He has a top paid job, a luxurious house, and everything an all-American citizen could ever conjure up. Until...Dean's life has suddenly turned upside down into a nightmare of violence and incidents moving at tidal wave speeds.ENEMY OF THE STATE has plenty of speed, exuberance, excitement, and a solid plot to back up all of the usual action scenes. The performances in this film were essentially superb from Voight again capturing attention as the demented main antagonist to Hackman as a lone herman geek who specializes into tapping through the main Government program. Will Smith (MEN IN BLACK) shines as the naïve lawyer, innocently caught in a gigantic conspiracy implicating the U.S. government.ENEMY OF THE STATE has a fascinating tone which allows the viewer to be enriched with explosions, unique camera angles, and lots of interesting futuristic toys such as satellites, tracking devices hidden with subtlety inside clothing, and high-tech computers which monitors voice prints and records conversations and pictures.Will Smith is grand for he always injects plenty of humor in even the most utmost dangerous situations. The laughs are abundant, but they do not serve as a distraction from the film's focal point.ENEMY OF THE STATE is a motion picture that also handles the theme of "invasion of privacy" with plenty of maturity and respect. The film also tackles the issue of "National Security Vs. Civil Liberty." How far should the government go in sustaining National Security? What are the real ambitions of the government and why do they often act in such a covert manner? Are threats to U.S. Security truly as dangerous and detrimental as alleged or is paranoia too overblown? The answers to these questions cannot be given away without spoiling the film's plot twists.ENEMY OF THE STATE is a fine treat for the eyes, mind, and soul. The film is generally a well-done thriller with a loophole or two in the film's plot and characterization. The narrow escapes from treacherous dangers may also seem implausible and improbable at times. The idea of ENEMY OF THE STATE itself is not entirely original. Still, ENEMY OF THE STATE remains a fast moving film with great chase scenes and a story line built with sympathetic and strong willed characters. The direction from Tony Scott is blended with decent technical skills. The conclusion is definitely poetic justice!RATING: *** out of ****.

Solid Action Movie

This movie had (undoubtedly, in my mind) Will Smith's best big screen performance ever. He proved that he can act in this one. Although I've enjoyed all his movies I've seen (Bad Boys, Men In Black, Independance Day) none of them have really shown his acting ability. Enemy of the State does. Gene Hackman (as usual) gives a great performance. This has all the aspects of a good action movie, and throws in some great acting, and that made it one of the best of the year for pure entertainment. Jerry Bruckheimer has provided another winner.

Better than Rock, or Con Air but ....

It's closer to the Fugitive than other genre action films of late, though not as good. Gene Hackman was wonderful of course. Jon Voigt was very good as well. Will Smith did quite well but for him to be playing a hot-shot union labor lawyer at his obvious young age was a little difficult to believe. I had heard the film was full of neat gadgets and things. While it did have some...it did not have some of the gadgets I would expect it to have..Such as bugging devices that allow you to throw lasers on windows to pick up vibrations of sound off window panes etc. It's also ultimately a rather formula action film A much better than average one but still not a great or classic film by any means.There was another couple of scenes which bothered me because it showed a contempt for the audience. How do I mean this? Well, when you include a throw-away scene, a slightly comic scene where Will Smith tries to buy lingerie for his wife..... you don't have a glaring continuity error within the scene to prove to the audience you aren't really paying much attention to what's going on so we can get away with this.... Okay... Smith buys lingerie for his wife... and a young lady is modeling a revealing type outfit. Smith tactlessly says his wife's bust is larger than the woman in front of him.A little later when we see his wife....her bust is smaller than the models in the lingerie place.Why was the line necessary if it wasn't true... Why would he buy too big lingerie for his wife as a Christmas present? And as a hot shot lawyer would he be as nervous and naive about this as he played it?And then later on still.... the wife is wearing the perfectly fitting garments.huh? How can this be?Wow...must think we're stupid....Well... it's a minor series of errors, but these types of things show how little some film-makers care about their product and the audience that views them.Really enjoyed some of Hackman's line readings though. Worthwhile for this type of film.

It's not paranoia if they're really after you.

ENEMY OF THE STATE is flashy, big budget, adrenalin-pumping cinema as only director Tony Scott and producer Jerry Bruckheimer can concoct. It's raucously entertaining and most certainly a strident rallying film for the conspiracy theorists. Now I don't know just how accurate the movie is in terms of the technology depicted (I'd say fairly accurate) or of the dubious lengths to which our government will stoop to achieve its ends, but, certainly, the sincere and bravura acting of the high powered cast lends this over the top film an element of plausibility.


Several SPOILERS here: When a nature photographer (Jason Lee) accidentally tapes the cold-blooded murder of a high profile congressman, it sets off a chain of events which horrifyingly affects and endangers Washington, D.C. attorney Robert Dean (Will Smith). When a corrupt, high ranking agent of the National Security Agency comes to believe that Dean has in his possession evidence which will incriminate him, he and his henchmen turn Dean's universe instantly topsy turvy; as a result of their manipulations, Robert Dean is summarily fired from his law firm, framed in the newspaper, accused of having an affair with an ex-flame and current informant, and stripped of his finances. Even his cell phone stops functioning. He is bugged six ways from Sunday and is reduced to running for his life clad in his undies. It's hard work evading these determined people as Dean is easily pinpointed by the NSA's use of aerial surveillance and sundry tracking devices. But Dean receives unexpected aid from an enigmatic ex-intelligence agent (Gene Hackman, again acting with ferocity) as he tries desperately to stay one step ahead of his powerful, omnipresent pursuers and somehow salvage the remnants of his life.


You have to hand it to Scott and Bruckheimer, when they get together (DEJA VU, CRIMSON TIDE, TOP GUN), their enthusiasm knows no bounds. This rapidly paced hi-tech thriller/chase film takes Hitchcock's innocent man on the run premise and inserts its own brand of polished action sequences and well-executed stunts/fx. There's no questioning it's slickness. It's also enhanced by the solid performances of everyman Will Smith, the surly Gene Hackman, and the villainous Jon Voight. Regina King, Jamie Kennedy, Jack Black, and Lisa Bonet (still sexy) all contribute nicely in supporting roles.



ENEMY OF THE STATE is a cautionary fable which raises the issue of national security and of our government's constant need to gather intel for our own protection, but juxtaposed against that is the violation incurred to our civil rights, and, how, depending on the man, certain moral lines are easier to cross in pursuit of the big picture. As someone said, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." This film would have us believe that, with the application of space satellite imagery, super dedicated cameras, various transmitters and taps, our government can now have access to our privacy at a moment's whim. The sobering thing here is that the frighteningly detailed surveillance technology shown in this film - which would make J. Edgar Hoover cream in his dress - is, no doubt, in existence and is probably in steady use - for our own good, of course. Sucks for us and the so-called American way of life. I'm sure, somewhere, George Orwell is saying, "See - I told you."

newly relevant

The first time that I saw "Enemy of the State" advertised, it looked totally formulaic and idiotic. It appeared to be about someone planting something on Will Smith, so Smith has to take matters into his own hands. I thought: "Oh, and I bet that they didn't know who they were messing with when they put it in HIS pocket." When I saw the movie much later, I was surprised. Now, I will admit that parts of the movie are predictable (such as the end), but the whole thing about surveillance was actually quite interesting, especially with the recent NSA scandal. Therefore, this movie seems better many years after its release than at the time of its release (just the opposite of what one would expect).So, it's not a masterpiece by any stretch, but worth seeing. Also starring Gene Hackman, Barry Pepper, Jon Voight, Regina King, Ian Hart, Lisa Bonet, Jake Busey, Scott Caan, Jamie Kennedy, Jason Lee, Gabriel Byrne, Jack Black and Jason Robards.So have YOU ever gotten the feeling that you were being watched?

It is one of the best movies in the world

I thought that this movie was a great Jerry Bruckheimer production. I like how most of the stunts were pulled off in the entire movie. Will Smith should be congradulated for being in this great movie from Jerry Bruckheimer. (Who also did "The Rock" and "Armageddon") Gene Hackman's part as Brill was very interesting, as well with Jon voight. In total, this movie should be a must see and a must buy movie to own and watch.

Fast thriller with privacy at stake

A political murder video ends up in lawyer Robert Dean's hands and makes him the target of the NSA The invasion of privacy, the question of politician's concerns, the drive to survive is Tony Scott's crime thriller.Opening with a controversial political assassination, Enemy of the State is instantly engaging and what follows is an intense and opinionated open plot that makes you wonder about political agendas and the much talked about invasion of privacy.David Marconi's script investigates the devices used by the NSA to track anybody who's an everybody and the investigation into the lives of the organisation is almost spooky with the technical devices used and the fact that anyone could be listening to your conversation. Whilst many may argue it is obviously sceptical, you cannot help but wonder what happens behind closed doors.The pace is consistently active with an investigation into the murder of a congressman turning into a thriller and drama once Independence Day actor Will Smith enters. The plot revolves around a man who finds a tape of the murder in his possession and then turning it over to Dean with his awareness. The NSA then track Dean into finding this tape that will unravel their organisation if ever exposed. The chase scenes at the beginning are well handed, maintaining enough realism without diving too far into exaggerated stunts or technical superiority. Dean's story adds drama to the mix with his business dealings with an ex-girlfriend and a struggling home life because of it.Smith's charm isn't fully active but he gains enough good will and drama to maintain the clueless act of a man who really does not know what is going on. Gene Hackman's Brill is one of the closed off intelligent guys that you have to love. That hard hit business like style with an own agenda and the little cheek the Unforgiven star brings is exquisite.There are lapses and unrealistic moments. You have to wonder if the NSA could have done more to obtain the tape in a more quicker fashion and the final showdown is an overstretched coincidental mismatch that you have to feel is too finely played, as if it is purposefully played without consideration of realism.Regardless this 1998 picture is a timeless thriller that generates high drama and tension through a controversial ideology and engaging narrative.

A Big Miss

Okay, another ordinary guy thrust into extraordinary circumstances and being pursued by overwhelming force: template number 1 in the poor writer's cheat book. This go around, we have dire warnings about and examples of NSA invasions of privacy.Even if it had a resonating story, this movie is dead. When will they learn not to cast poor actors (Smith, Bonet) near good ones (Voight, Hackman). It just reminds us. Smith never convinces.Worse, the reason this was made was to leverage paranoia about a very real agency, who does do profligate, but passive monitoring. The message would have real impact if they hadn't larded it up with so many technical fantasies. Also, if the mission had been carried out with some official blessing, instead of by a minor internal thug. The truth IS scarey, as is the threat they are countering. A real film could be made of this, something meaningful, but no one would watch. I wonder whether we really are a stupid people or that we would rather be frightened by clearly fake threats.