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Enemy of the State

  • 1998
  • R
  • 2h 12m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
269K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,390
291
Will Smith and Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State (1998)
Home Video Trailer from Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Play trailer0:35
2 Videos
77 Photos
Conspiracy ThrillerPolitical ThrillerSpyActionThriller

A lawyer becomes targeted by a corrupt politician and his N.S.A. goons when he accidentally receives key evidence to a politically motivated crime.A lawyer becomes targeted by a corrupt politician and his N.S.A. goons when he accidentally receives key evidence to a politically motivated crime.A lawyer becomes targeted by a corrupt politician and his N.S.A. goons when he accidentally receives key evidence to a politically motivated crime.

  • Director
    • Tony Scott
  • Writer
    • David Marconi
  • Stars
    • Will Smith
    • Gene Hackman
    • Jon Voight
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    269K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,390
    291
    • Director
      • Tony Scott
    • Writer
      • David Marconi
    • Stars
      • Will Smith
      • Gene Hackman
      • Jon Voight
    • 539User reviews
    • 98Critic reviews
    • 67Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 16 nominations total

    Videos2

    Enemy of the State
    Trailer 0:35
    Enemy of the State
    Roles That Tom Cruise Turned Down
    Video 2:22
    Roles That Tom Cruise Turned Down
    Roles That Tom Cruise Turned Down
    Video 2:22
    Roles That Tom Cruise Turned Down

    Photos77

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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Will Smith
    Will Smith
    • Robert Clayton Dean
    Gene Hackman
    Gene Hackman
    • Brill
    Jon Voight
    Jon Voight
    • Reynolds
    Lisa Bonet
    Lisa Bonet
    • Rachel Banks
    Regina King
    Regina King
    • Carla Dean
    Stuart Wilson
    Stuart Wilson
    • Congressman Albert
    Laura Cayouette
    Laura Cayouette
    • Christa Hawkins
    Loren Dean
    Loren Dean
    • Hicks
    Barry Pepper
    Barry Pepper
    • David Pratt
    Ian Hart
    Ian Hart
    • Bingham
    Jake Busey
    Jake Busey
    • Krug
    Scott Caan
    Scott Caan
    • Jones
    Jason Lee
    Jason Lee
    • Zavitz
    Gabriel Byrne
    Gabriel Byrne
    • Brill
    James Le Gros
    James Le Gros
    • Jerry Miller
    Dan Butler
    Dan Butler
    • Shaffer
    Jack Black
    Jack Black
    • Fiedler
    Jamie Kennedy
    Jamie Kennedy
    • Jamie
    • Director
      • Tony Scott
    • Writer
      • David Marconi
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews539

    7.3269.3K
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    Featured reviews

    7questl-18592

    Enemy of Big Bro

    I remember when this came out and how much it freaked people out. Could we really be living in such a surveillance state? Could the government really be monitoring us whenever they want?

    Well, over 20 years later and... Yeah, that's probably all true and then some. Still, this was a fun movie with a compelling enough story, solid acting and a surprisingly deep cast of comedians playing serious computer nerds.

    Biggest downside to me was the tech itself. Movies of this nature can't help themselves from reaching into the nonsense handbag and pulling out things like the "zoom and enhance" cliché or the ability to tell exactly where someone is at all times with pinpoint accuracy among others.

    Dated though it may be, this was still a pretty enjoyable watch. I'd say it's worth checking out if you have it streaming somewhere.
    bob the moo

    Good thriller - Hackman makes it

    Sucessful lawyer Robert Dean is passed information by an old friend without noticing. Seconds later that friend is killed and Dean is targeted by a group within the Government who wish to cover up a conspiracy involving the murder of a congressman. With the Government's full weight of surveillance equipment brought to bear Dean turns to ex-NSA agent Brill to help protect him, find the information and get it out into the open.

    This is much better than the ususal summer crash, bang, wallop stuff we usually get fed. It's greatly helped by the sense of paranonia that runs through the whole story from the Government's power and corruption at some levels. The film starts well, with 'everyman' Dean being drawn into a game of cat and mouse, framed for a crime he didn't commit and forced to go on the run from Government agents. Will Smith carries the film only so far but it realy gets interesting when Hackman turns up as Brill. He casts light on the ability of the government and is almost able to play them at their own game. Brill makes an appearance when the film starts to become too much of a staight chase movie.

    To me the use of Hackman as Brill is the best bit of casting ever and makes this film stand out as being clever. In the 70's Hackman played a surveillance expert in Copolla's The Conversation. The film ends with Hackman being monitored himself, with him ripping his house apart looking for the bugs. What makes his casting as Brill so good is that Brill is where Hackman's "The Conversation" character would be 20 years on - it feels like it's the same character again. The director also deserves a lot of praise - he manages to keep the pace up throughout the film, whether it be scenes of chasing action or technological pursuit. The script helps as well - the conspiracy and the paranoia is strong throughout.

    Smith is good in the lead, but he isn't quite as good an "everyman" as classic actors as Cary Grant or James Stewart were. Smith also struggles to carry the whole movie and the chases do get a bit samey after a while. Fortunately Hackman is brilliant as Brill, he is a classy actor and brings a lot of weight to the film just as Smith begins to feel the strain. Jon Voight is also good as the villian of the piece. The supporting cast is deep! There were so many famous faces in small roles that I really felt this was an allstar cast, despite the fact that it's a Smith vehicle. Gabriel Byrne makes a fleeting appearance, Ian Hart is there, Jake Busey (son of Gary) shows up, Jason Lee (actor in many Kevin Smith films) witnesses the murder, a gorgeous Lisa Bonet has a small part, James Le Gros, Regina King etc etc. The cast is well packed with famous faces - they don't all get the chance to put on a show but it adds quality at all levels.

    Overall this is a fancy chase movie, but good direction, a strong and deep cast and a fantastic Hackman all make this film much better than it could have been. The last scene of the film is a little too upbeat but other than that it's pretty good stuff.
    TxMike

    Interesting plot, will make you wonder who's watching you!

    Jon Voight, Will Smith, and Gene Hackman are the three stars who make this movie interesting. Voight is a rogue NSA operative and Smith quite accidentally gets on his trail without even realizing it. Hackman provides the key to exposing the crooks and facilitating a reasonable ending. Watching this movie makes you wonder how much of the surveillance depicted can really be done today by our governments. Although the movie has its share of violence, and an ending out of Reservoir Dogs, it also is sprinkled with some good humor. If you like action and espionage, then you'll like this movie. The DVD picture and soundtrack are both excellent. I give the movie overall 8 of 10.
    8CrassActionHero

    You Can Run, But You Cannot Hide

    Enemy of the State (1998)

    Review: This is a different direction for many. Will Smith for one and some noticeable comedic actors are here, but this is no comedy.

    Enemy of the State is quite a movie. What is the main point of this is the plot. It works in many ways. In a situation like this, anyone with connections and power can have access to such technology to track down anyone who knows far too much. It's quite real. Scary in a real sort of way.

    Another truly strong point here is the acting. Will Smith and Gene Hackman deliver excellent performances. Smith showed great emotion and Hackman had conviction. Not just these two were great, we have Jon Voight as well. But what really got me is the acting from other characters as Seth Green, Barry Pepper, Jake Busey, and even Jack Black. These people are great especially Black who is really acting here! Black should have realised that comedy is not his thing if suspense and drama are as he is great here.

    Overall, we get great acting, a fine plot, and fast, character development and fast and intense action as well. Sound like a winner to me. Enemy of the State is fresh and original and clever. One of Smith's finest movies.

    The Last Word: Don't miss. Gripping and Suspenseful.
    8neilmac

    Crackerjack Thriller with a message...

    Why? Well for starters there is the best chase sequence since The French Connection. Then there is Will Smith as an actor - not just a star, though later in the movie he is admittedly overshadowed by veteran Gene Hackman.

    There are two layers to this movie: On the surface is a pacy thriller with edge-of-the-seat chases but underneath lies a telling commentary on government surveillance. It is one of those truth-in-fiction stories which makes its point about government intrusion into privacy dramatically and effectively.

    There are references to the classic, The Conversation: The surveilled couple talking in the park, and the Hackman character's premises are an obvious recreation of his workshop in the earlier movie. If you haven't yet seen The Conversation - see it before you see this one - you will understand the Hackman character a lot better (besides, it is a superb movie in its own right).

    Oh, and Jon Voight is terrific as the bad guy...

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Gene Hackman turned down this movie several times, but was ultimately convinced to sign on after a phone call by director Tony Scott. Will Smith later signed on at a relative post-Independence Day (1996) bargain price because he wanted to work with Hackman.
    • Goofs
      When Dean is running on the hotel roof after Brill leaves him, the surveillance team reports that the satellite is coming on-line with "one meter resolution". One meter resolution indicates that the smallest pixel (detail) that can be seen is 1 meter by 1 meter while the film clearly suggests that the satellite has enough resolution to see Dean running. Assuming you would need at least "web-cam" resolution (75 pixels-per-inch), the satellite resolution would need to be roughly 2,800 times higher than one meter (38 inches x 75 pixels per inch = 2,850).

      However, the full text is "one meter res grid frame", which is not equal to the image resolution. It suggests that the camera is able to zoom in to 1 x 1 meter. At a typical resolution of the period, this would make a single pixel about 1/8" or 3 mm in size, which is more or less the minimal resolution you would need to read a license plate. In the period, that was military-grade technology only.
    • Quotes

      Robert Clayton Dean: What the hell is happening?

      Brill: I blew up the building.

      Robert Clayton Dean: Why?

      Brill: Because you made a phone call.

    • Alternate versions
      Also available in an "Unrated Extended Edition" which features some new/extended footage (ca. 7 minutes) like some explicit shots of the senator with his secretary or Dean finding his dead ex-girlfriend covered in blood.
    • Connections
      Edited into 24: 12:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m. (2001)
    • Soundtracks
      O Come All Ye Faithful
      (Also known as "Adeste Fidelis")

      Music attributed to John Reading (uncredited)

      Arranged by Margaret Dorn, Linda Lawley, Danny Pelfrey

      Performed by The Accidentals

      Courtesy of Amusicom Records

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    FAQ

    • How long is Enemy of the State?
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    • is Gene Hackman playing the same character from The Conversation?
    • What is 'Enemy of the State' about?
    • Is 'Enemy of the State' based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 20, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Enemigo público
    • Filming locations
      • 1633 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, USA(Zavitz gets hit by a car)
    • Production companies
      • Touchstone Pictures
      • Jerry Bruckheimer Films
      • Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $90,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $111,549,836
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $20,038,573
      • Nov 22, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $250,849,789
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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