It's not paranoia if they're really after you.
When the videotape of the murder of a congressman unknowingly ends up in the hands of labor lawyer and dedicated family man Robert Clayton Dean, he is framed for the murder. With the help of the mysterious Brill, Dean attempts to throw the NSA off his trail and prove his innocence.
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Character
Classical in form, contemporary, grave and plot-driven.
- classical in formformally daring
- contemporarynostalgic
- gravecomic
- character-ledplot-driven
- contemplativerelentless
Who loves it, who doesn't
67 profiled raters. Loved most by The Thrill Chasers; disliked most by The Prestige Hunters.
Where do you stand?
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“Is Will Smith the best thing in Enemy of the State?”
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“Is this Tony Scott's best work?”
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“Does the pace leave no room to feel anything?”
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A yes-or-no question, answered from what people wrote here, on TMDB and on Wikipedia. Never made up.
Reviews
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- RalphRahalon TMDB · Jan 20258/10
Enemy of the State is an intense thriller that still holds up today, maybe even more so with how technology and surveillance have evolved. The pacing is spot-on, keeping things moving without feeling rushed or dragging. Sure, the technical details are wildly inaccurate, but that doesn't really matter when the movie is this engaging. Watching it now, a lot of what seemed far-fetched back in 1998 doesn’t feel as impossible anymore, which makes it even more compelling. Will Smith carries the film effortlessly, balancing charm, panic, and determination in a way that keeps you invested. Then there's Brill, played by Gene Hackman, who adds that perfect mix of paranoia and experience, making their dynamic one of the highlights. The cinematography does a great job shifting perspectives at just the right moments, pulling you into the feeling of always being watched. It’s not flawless, and there are some odd creative choices here and there, but nothing that takes away from the experience. The sound design and score are decent, though nothing particularly memorable, which works fine since it doesn’t take anything away from the film. What really makes Enemy of the State work is its energy and
Read the whole review on TMDB - The Movie Mobon TMDB · Oct 20227/10
**Enemy of the State is an underrated action thriller that might not innovate the genre but definitely entertains!** A paranoid conspiracy action thriller with Tony Scott flair. Scott has directed some of my favorite movies, and while this one isn’t on the top of my list, it’s still a fantastic suspense espionage flick with all the government secrecy of Jason Bourne but without most of the action. Will Smith and Gene Hackman struggle to escape the tightening net of corrupt government officials and mercenaries and can only survive by using their own surveillance and subterfuge against them. Enemy of the State might not bring anything new to the genre, but it is one of the better wrongfully accused crooked politician movies out there. While the technology of the film was advanced at the time, it is now dated, but thankfully, it doesn’t distract much from the overall film. From the director of Top Gun and Man on Fire, Enemy of the State is an entertaining, fast-paced thriller with a hint of Christmas.
Read the whole review on TMDB - CinemaSerfon TMDB · Jul 20226/10
Poor Jason Lee ("Zavitz") has only the smallest of parts in this film, yet in the few minutes he is on screen (before he is squished in a road accident) he manages to dump unsuspecting lawyer "Dean" (Will Smith) into an whole world of pain. Why? Well we already know what happened regarding the mysterious death of "Congressman Hammersley" (Jason Robards) but unfortunately for the killers, a video camera used for monitoring bird life caught them in the act. "Zavitz" managed to pass the tape to "Dean" and soon the considerable resources of the NSA are shutting down his credits cards, testing his already precariously balanced marriage and setting him up for a fall as they desperately try to retrieve this incriminating evidence. Luckily, though, he alights on maverick "Lyle" (Gene Hackman) and they start to come up with a strategy to fight back and trap their nemesis "Reynolds" (Jon Voight). There are a few sub-plots - but essentially this is just a vehicle for Will Smith to do what he always does and there is nothing remarkable about that. Hackman joins late and does inject a little class into this otherwise by-the-numbers political thriller that serves as a conspiracy theorist's wet d
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Cast
- Will SmithRobert Clayton Dean
- Gene HackmanBrill
- Jon VoightReynolds
- Regina KingCarla Dean
- Loren DeanHicks
- Jake BuseyKrug
- Barry PepperPratt
- Jason LeeDaniel Zavitz
- Gabriel Byrne'Brill'
- Lisa BonetRachel Banks
Crew
- Tony ScottDirector
- David MarconiWriter
- Dan MindelDirector of Photography
- Harry Gregson-WilliamsOriginal Music Composer
- Trevor RabinOriginal Music Composer
- Chris LebenzonEditor
- Jerry BruckheimerProducer
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Pairings
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Often watched with
Recommendations from TMDB. Opening one adds it to Tastebuds
