Enemy of the State, Tony Scott’s thrilling ride that explored the chilling reality of government surveillance, landed in theaters Nov. 20, 1998.
Will Smith, Gene Hackman, and Jon Voight headlined the film delved into a world where privacy was a luxury and the state was a relentless predator.
Smith starred as Robert Clayton Dean, a successful Washington D.C. labor lawyer working on a case involving restaurant owner and mob boss Paulie Pintero, who becomes the target of a powerful government agency after stumbling upon a videotape that could expose a corrupt official.
When the NSA, led by the ruthless Thomas Reynolds (Voight), begins a relentless pursuit to silence Dean, he turns to a mysterious ex-intelligence agent, Edward “Brill” Lyle (Hackman), for help.
Enemy of the State All-Star Cast
Smith delivers a charismatic performance as the everyman hero, while Hackman shines as the grizzled and resourceful ex-agent. Voight’s portrayal of the villainous NSA official is both chilling and compelling.
The supporting cast, including Regina King as Smith’s wife and Lisa Bonet as his former girlfriend, adds depth and emotion to the story.
The large ensemble includes Barry Pepper, Loren Dean, Jake Busey, Jason Lee, Gabriel Byrne, Jack Black, Jamie Kennedy, Scott Caan, Seth Green, Tom Sizemore and two-time Oscar-winner (Best Supporting Actor for All the President’s Men (1976), and Julia (1977)) Jason Robards.
Reception
Enemy of the State grossed $250.8 million worldwide, with $20 million on its first weekend and a strong follow-up $18.1 in its second weekend.
Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars in his review, saying “Enemy of the State uses the thriller genre to attack what it calls ‘the surveillance society.'”
Ebert added: “There is an echo here of Francis Coppola’s 1974 film The Conversation, which also starred Hackman as a paranoid high-tech eavesdropper.”
Enemy of the State currently has 71% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Tony Scott’s Signature Style
The film’s fast-paced action sequences and suspenseful plot were hallmarks of Scott’s signature glossy style.
The director’s use of quick cuts, dynamic camera angles, and a pulsating score created a sense of urgency and paranoia.
Scott is well-known for his blockbusters such as Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop II, Days of Thunder, The Last Boy Scout and Crimson Tide.
Wrap-Up
Enemy of the State is more than just a thrilling action film; it provides a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power.
