Enemy of the State is a really fun 1998 thriller that is directed by Tony Scott. During this time, Jerry Bruckheimer just had hit after hit, seriously, he has to be one of the most prolific movie producers of all time! With a just over two hours runtime. This is a fast-paced and very entertaining thriller, which I watched for the first time in many years recently, and I have to say that it still holds up really well.
Where to Watch Enemy of the State
Enemy of the State was released on November 20, 1998. You can stream the film from a digital platform such as Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV, or Microsoft Store.
The Movie Review
In 1998 after Bad Boys or Independence Day, Will Smith was a star who was absolutely on the rise, and he, along with Gene Hackman (Superman, The Firm), are the leads in this movie. In addition to Will Smith and Gene Hackman, Enemy of the State has an incredible supporting cast. Jon Voight, Gabriel Byrne, Lisa Bonet, and a pre-comedy superstar, Jack Black, all have roles here. In watching this again recently, the one I got the biggest kick out of was Jason Lee, who I completely forgot was in this movie.
Enemy of the State Plot and Themes
The NSA is trying to push through a bill that will give them more power when it comes to being allowed to use surveillance on the American people. NSA Assistant Director Reynolds is really pushing for this surveillance bill to go through, as it will benefit him greatly if it does, but not everyone who has a vote is on board with this. Jon Voight is awesome as Reynolds, and he is our main antagonist in the movie.
A high-profile man does not want this bill to go through, so Reynolds has him killed. However, this political murder was caught on tape by a nature videographer, and now Reynolds and his hit squad are out to get him so that they can get their hands on this tape. This is where Will Smith’s Robert Clayton Dean comes into play. Dean is a lawyer who is out shopping and minding his own business when he ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Action Unfolds
The guy who has the tape, which is on a Turbo Express video game console, which is awesome by the way, runs into Dean while he is shopping. This guy slips the tape into Dean’s bag and ends up being chased down and murdered by Reynolds’ goons, but of course, he no longer has the tape! However, they find out that the tape is with Dean and make a plan to get it back.
Thinking that Dean is in on trying to expose them, the NSA wrecks Dean’s life, getting him fired, kicked out of his home, and of course, being hunted down by them as they try to get the tape. Seeing Dean’s life crumble around him and Reynolds and the NSA treat it like it is just another day is pretty wild to see.
Dean and Brill’s Alliance
One of the ways that they cause Dean trouble is by making his wife think that Dean is having an affair with an ex-girlfriend, Rachel Bank’s played by Lisa Bonet. This works in Dean’s favor as Rachel has a contact called Brill, who may be able to help Dean get out of the mess that he is in. Brill is played by Gene Hackman, and he is an ex-government man himself and an expert in staying off the grid. Brill agrees to help Dean get out of this situation and bring Reynolds and the corrupt people at the NSA down.
Final Thoughts on Enemy of the State
The first time you watch Enemy of the State, it is one hell of a thrill ride as you never know how Dean and Brill are going to get out of the situations they find themselves in. I have seen this a few times over the years, and while it does lose some of the excitement when you know what is going to happen, it is still a fun time. If you have never watched this, I highly recommend that you do; it is one of Will Smith’s best movies from the 90s.
