In today's technology-advanced/obsessed culture, stories continually stream in regarding the legality of surveillance. Heck, one of the most popular television programs on the airwaves today--"Person Of Interest"--deals almost exclusively with that subject. Back in 1998, however, the duo of Jerry Bruckheimer (producer) and Tony Scott (director) teamed up to make an action- adventure extravaganza in "Enemy Of The State". In doing so, they happened to stumble across a concept (pervasive surveillance) that was years ahead of its dramatic time.For a basic plot summary, "Enemy of The State" focuses on Robert Dean (Will Smith), a man who is unknowingly pulled into an NSA chase plot when he happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. With head NSA official Thomas Reynolds (Jon Voigt) pulling out all the stops to get his man, Dean must enlist the help of the mysterious "Bryll" (Gene Hackman), who knows a thing or two about surveillance himself.This movie really holds up well over time because it was so far ahead of its time in terms of themes. Before 9/11 or everyone having a personal computer in their pocket at all times, "Enemy of The State" espouses on the dangers of said technologies and how they can be manipulated for either good or bad ends. In all honesty, this is a plot that could easily be a "Person of Interest" episode.Sadly, the film doesn't do many other things well. Hackman has a very good role, but the rest of the cast is quite under-done, providing almost no emotional attachments to the proceedings. The plot is also rather simple/predictable, although perhaps that is due to the fact that such stories are so commonplace as to be blase now.All in all, "Enemy of the State" is as average as it is odd. It is an action piece at heart, yet it's best moments come in the phases where it slows down and really examines its themes. Unfortunately, that is not the Bruckheimer style of film-making, so most of the time that pace moves ahead at breakneck speed. I would usually criticize a film more heavily for taking this approach, but for some reason I am willing to accept that this film probably actually turned out better than it even should have been.

Enemy of the State (1998): Dir: Tony Scott / Cast: Will Smith, Gene Hackman, Jon Voight, Regina King, Barry Pepper: The enemy in question is not asked within the compounds of the screenplay but rather in our own view on political issues. Will Smith plays a lawyer caught in a scheme where he must clear his name. Recycled plot yet director Tony Scott builds upon mystery elements to render it more detailed and a tad more intelligent than perhaps it is perceived as being. Smith gains accidental possession of a disc containing footage of the murder of a congressman. Gene Hackman appears after a third party is murdered. Scott shows skill here after making the highly overrated Top Gun and the vampire gore fest The Hunger. Smith is effective as a lawyer placed within a dire situation where he must clear his name. We know the outcome to this and that everything Smith lost he will regain. Hackman is in top form as a mysterious contact who has laid low for a very long time. Hackman is the reason to see the film specifically for his methods of outsmarting the enemy. Jon Voight plays the villain caught on camera committing murder and makes Smith's life difficult when he pursues a device placed in his possession. This will ultimately arrive at the standard shootout. Regina King is standard issue as Smith's wife. Pure action that should please fans of the genre. Score: 7 ½ / 10

Just again watched some of "Enemy of the State" for the first time in many many years and again I felt it was a hard film to follow with to many plot twist and to many characters who fade in and out of the story it's a little hard to understand! Yet it has star power with Will Smith and Gene Hackman, it can be called many genres from spy, thriller, action, and mystery drama, yet the plot centers around D.C. with a video tying top National security people to political murder, and then soon the NSA and other people get involved. As the action and fast pacing of this thriller blends action and technology to a new level. The real treat for me was the Regina King scenes she was great as Will's caring and sexy loving wife! And that scene in which Regina sports that silk dark sexy black colored bra I loved that was the best part of the film it made my day!

Crime-Drama-Thrillers has always been my favorite mix of genres and I was very excited to finally get to watch Enemy of the State. Not only because it was a different role for Will Smith but because of the great all around cast. And boy does it have a great cast. It turned out to be nothing too special. I think it's a decent drama for a Saturday or Sunday morning viewing on cable, but I cant say I'm going to willingly watch it again.The cast truly is terrific though. When you have Will Smith, Gene Hackman, Jon Voight, Barry Pepper, and even Jack Black all in a movie together you expect greatness. They all give note-worthy performances, but I think the film lacked some focus in this area. At times it tried to give back stories to every one of the characters, even the ones we weren't really suppose to care about. If it were to have focused on only a select few of them, the film would have been more effective. Because of the lack of focus, you end up not really caring for any of the characters.I did really like the premise of the film. It deals with privacy and the effects and impact it has on everyone when it's abused. You begin to question to yourself just how much of our lives are watched and monitored. But I do feel like they could have gone even further with it and made it more personal. The Lives of Others is a much better film based around a similar premise. The film does feel original though. I didn't feel like they were copying any other action film even nearly 20 years after its release. You also definitely feel the 135 minute length. It could have used about a 20 minute trimming job. So with the possible pacing and focus issues the film turns out to be a solid drama, but one that also feels a bit disappointing at the same time.+Original premise +Fascinating privacy concepts +Cast -Pacing and lack of focus issues -Weak supporting characters -Feel the length 6.5/10