Enemy of the State (1998)
When we look back at late-90s cinema, few films hit the nerve of an era quite like Enemy of the State (1998). Directed by Tony Scott and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the film was released when the internet was still in its infancy, and the public’s understanding of digital surveillance was minimal at best. Fast-forward to today and Enemy of the State feels less like a cautionary tale and more like a prediction of the modern world.
Starring Will Smith in one of his first dramatic leading roles and featuring a powerhouse cast that includes Gene Hackman, Jon Voight, and Lisa Bonet, Enemy of the State blends action, espionage, and paranoia in a way that makes it both thrilling and eerily relevant. The movie’s central theme—how the government can use technology to monitor citizens—is more pertinent now than in 1998. But beyond the social commentary, Enemy of the State is a tightly wound conspiracy thriller that still manages to entertain on its most basic level: sheer adrenaline.
A Case of Wrong Place, Wrong Time
The film kicks off with the murder of a U.S. Congressman by a high-ranking NSA official, played with chilling authority by Jon Voight. This event sets the stage for the film’s exploration of the dark side of government surveillance. The plot follows Robert Clayton Dean (Will Smith), a successful labour lawyer, who unwittingly becomes entangled in this conspiracy when an old acquaintance slips him a videotape containing evidence of the congressman’s murder.
Dean, who has no idea that he has this tape, quickly finds himself the target of the NSA’s surveillance and an orchestrated takedown. His life is turned upside down as his bank accounts are frozen, his credit cards are cancelled, and an omniscient digital eye monitors his every move. The tension only builds as Dean is forced to team up with a former NSA operative, Brill (Gene Hackman), who helps him understand the depth of the conspiracy he’s caught up in.
Surveillance and Paranoia in the Digital Age
Enemy of the State stands out because it effectively tackles the theme of surveillance in the digital age. Released during a time when most of us still viewed the internet as little more than a novelty, the film was ahead of its time in predicting just how pervasive technology would become in our everyday lives. From satellite tracking to phone tapping, Scott’s direction makes it clear that there’s nowhere to hide in this tech-driven world.
At the heart of the film is a fear that resonates with many today: the loss of privacy. The movie asks a question that feels more urgent in the 2020s than in the 1990s—how much power should governments have to monitor their citizens in the name of security? While Enemy of the State doesn’t provide any clear answers, it succeeds in making us feel uneasy, particularly as the line between safety and invasion of privacy blurs.
In hindsight, the film’s plot is almost prophetic. In an era post-Snowden, with revelations of mass government surveillance by agencies like the NSA, Enemy of the State seems less far-fetched and more like a stark reality. This prescience is one of the reasons the film holds up so well over two decades later.
Will Smith: A Star in the Making
At the time of its release, Enemy of the State was a significant departure for Will Smith, who was best known for his comedic roles in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and blockbuster action flicks like Independence Day. As Robert Clayton Dean, Smith delivers a more nuanced and serious performance, proving that he can handle roles that require more than just one-liners and charm. His portrayal of an everyman caught in a nightmare scenario is both believable and sympathetic, grounding the film’s high-concept premise in a relatable human experience.
Smith’s chemistry with Gene Hackman is another highlight. Hackman, who plays the paranoid, world-weary former NSA agent, brings gravitas to every scene he’s in, making Brill a character that feels like he could have walked right out of another conspiracy thriller—The Conversation (1974), for instance, which Hackman also starred in. Their dynamic, a blend of mentor and reluctant ally, adds a layer of emotional depth to the film, giving it more weight than your average action thriller.
Tony Scott’s Signature Style: Tension on Overdrive
Tony Scott, known for his kinetic and visually dynamic style, brings his A-game to Enemy of the State. The film is packed with fast-paced action sequences and explosive set pieces that we’ve come to expect from Scott, but what sets it apart from other late-90s thrillers is how well it builds and sustains tension.
The chase sequences, for example, are relentless, and Scott uses surveillance tools—cameras, monitors, satellites—to create a sense of claustrophobia. The viewer is constantly reminded that Dean is being watched, tracked, and hunted. Even in scenes where nothing overtly dangerous is happening, the ever-present hum of technology keeps the tension alive. It’s a film that rarely lets the audience catch its breath, and that’s exactly what makes it so engaging.
A Time Capsule That Still Matters
Although Enemy of the State is a product of the late 90s, its themes and messages have become more relevant with time. The film tapped into a growing anxiety about the role of technology in our lives, and in the years since its release, that anxiety has only intensified. The explosion of the internet, the rise of social media, and the ongoing debate about privacy vs. security make Enemy of the State feel more like a cultural artifact that predicted our current reality.
The film also helped shape how Hollywood would approach tech-based thrillers in the future. Movies like The Bourne Identity, Eagle Eye, and even The Dark Knight owe a debt to the groundwork laid by Enemy of the State, particularly in how they depict technology as both a tool and a weapon.
Why It Still Matters
At its core, Enemy of the State (1998) is a pulse-pounding thriller that expertly combines action with a timely and prescient commentary on technology and government power. It’s a movie that’s fun to watch and forces you to think about the world we live in today. With strong performances from Will Smith and Gene Hackman, and Tony Scott’s tense, no-holds-barred direction, Enemy of the State remains a must-watch for anyone who enjoys a good thriller with something important to say.
For fans of the Born to Watch podcast, revisiting this film will be both a nostalgic trip back to the late 90s and a stark reminder of how far and little things have changed since then.
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