The film covers topics such as technology, privacy, and government surveillance, and shows the effects technology has on our personal lives. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was successful at the box office.
Enemy of the State has a rich cast that includes the likes of Jon Voight, Lisa Bonet, and Regina King, among many popular actors. The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Sound Editing in 1999.
Enemy of the State tells the story of lawyer Robert Dean, played by Will Smith. Dean accidentally receives a espionage document while helping a former client who is a member of a crime syndicate being tracked by NSA agents. Dean, who holds this document, is suddenly accused of espionage and his life is turned upside down.
When Dean watches a video footage recorded during a covert NSA operation, he suddenly finds himself the target of federal agents and tech surveillance devices. Dean tries to survive alone and prove his innocence as he tries to dodge the agents watching his every move.
Dean enlists the help of Brill (Gene Hackman), an undercover technologist. Brill gives Dean a technologically unprotected device, which Dean uses to try to evade the surveillance of the agents. However, NSA agents follow Dean and they start trying every possible way to catch him.
The film deals with the place of technology in our lives, personal privacy and freedom. It also highlights the borderless surveillance of the federal government and the vulnerability of citizens to such surveillance.
While Enemy of the State draws attention with its intense action sequences and tense story, it also gives a thought-provoking message.
Information about the movie that will interest you
- Enemy of the State was originally planned as a modern remake of the 1974 movie The Conversation. However, this idea was abandoned due to script changes and a new story was written.
- Movie, Washington D.C. and filmed in Los Angeles. Some scenes were shot in real NSA buildings, FBI headquarters and the US Capitol.
- The technological surveillance devices in the movie were inspired by technologies that are also available in real life. For example, the devices in the movie are used by the NSA in real life.
- Will Smith wanted to increase the comedy elements of the movie by writing some jokes that were not included in the script during the shooting of the movie. Some jokes were included in the final version of the movie.
- The main character of the movie, Will Smith, was in a paranoid mood during the filming of the movie, believing that he was actually being followed by NSA agents in some scenes.
- The character Brill in the movie lives in the same house as Clarence Worley in another Tony Scott movie, 1993's True Romance. Furthermore, Robert Dean's daughter is seen watching True Romance in the movie.
- Some of the technological devices in the movie were the predecessors of the technologies used today. For example, the mobile phones in the movie were quite new technology at the time and were dazzled during the screening of the movie.
Director : Tony Scott
Writers : David Marconi
Director of Photography : Dan Mindel
Music : Harry Gregson-Williams, Trevor Rabin
Production : 1998 - USA - 132 m.
Genre : Action / Thriller
Writers : David Marconi
Director of Photography : Dan Mindel
Music : Harry Gregson-Williams, Trevor Rabin
Production : 1998 - USA - 132 m.
Genre : Action / Thriller
CAST :
Will Smith
Gene Hackman
Jon Voight
Lisa Bonet
Regina King
Stuart Wilson
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