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When it first came out in 1998, the issues addressed in Enemy of the State were only mildly alarming. While possible, its concept felt more like science fiction, and its relevancy distant. Today, however, it is eerily relevant, with debates over the far-reaching NSA programs aimed at domestic spying and phone taps.
This film is easily one of my favorite action flicks. It is smart and entertaining, with good characters and terrific direction by Tony Scott (this was before his visual style took on the drug-induced insanity prevalent in his latest films). Will Smith is perfect as the every man, and Gene Hackman is excellent as the former NSA agent gone recluse. One of the elements to his character that I loved the most is how the film works as a pseudo-sequel to The Conversation, in which Hackman played a professional snoop adept at using sound equipment to spy on people. Although he isn’t playing the same character, I like to think he does. In fact, during one scene where an old photo is shown of Hackman, the image is of Hackman from The Conversation.
Enemy of the State has Smith as Robert Dean, a high-priced labor lawyer who is embroiled in a deadly battle with the mob. A chance encounter with a former schoolmate has him targeted by crooked government agents at the NSA, who are trying to obtain a video that shows one of their top officials (Jon Voight) participating in the murder of a Congressman. Unaware that he has the video, Dean become a target, and his life is turned upside down. Cameras and tracking devices follow his every moment. The only person who can help is the enigmatic Brill (Hackman). Soon the two men must rely on one another to bring down the crooked NSA agents, as well as deal with the mobsters looking to kill Dean.
It had been several years since I’d even seen this film. One of the things that amazed me, looking back at it, was the terrific cast. Not only do you have Smith, Hackman and Voight, but in smaller roles you have Jack Black, Seth Green, and Jamie Kennedy, all of whom went on to become rather successful in their own rights. There is also Regina King, Jason Lee, Jake Busey and Barry Pepper, all of whom are easily recognizable actors today.
But my favorite bit of casting is easily Gabriel Byrne. His brief scene is one of the most brilliant red herrings in the entire film.
Beyond the cast, this film is simply eerie in how the story has far more relevancy in today’s political environment. The issues were just as real in 1998, however we feel it far more now. Plus, in another strange way a film like this can become more powerful, there’s a brief moment in the film that had me shocked. In one scene you see the biographical information of Voight’s character. His birthdate is clearly displayed. The month and date?
9/11
This was meant as a reference to the first time a computer was accessed via a phone line in 1940, but it is hard to divorce it from that other more recent date.
This extended edition of Enemy of the State features a few additional moments, including a few extra bits of dialogue from Jack Black, but they only amount to about seven additional minutes. The DVD also includes a making-of featurette, a look at “The Showdown”, the film’s climactic conclusion, as well as the trailer and a few deleted scenes.
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