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Enemy of the State

  • 19981998
  • RR
  • 2h 12m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
241K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,566
189
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Will Smith and Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State (1998)
Home Video Trailer from Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Play trailer0:35
2 Videos
79 Photos
  • Action
  • Thriller

A lawyer becomes targeted by a corrupt politician and his N.S.A. goons when he accidentally receives key evidence to a politically motivated crime.A lawyer becomes targeted by a corrupt politician and his N.S.A. goons when he accidentally receives key evidence to a politically motivated crime.A lawyer becomes targeted by a corrupt politician and his N.S.A. goons when he accidentally receives key evidence to a politically motivated crime.

IMDb RATING
7.3/10
241K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,566
189
  • Director
    • Tony Scott
  • Writer
    • David Marconi
  • Stars
    • Will Smith
    • Gene Hackman
    • Jon Voight
Top credits
  • Director
    • Tony Scott
  • Writer
    • David Marconi
  • Stars
    • Will Smith
    • Gene Hackman
    • Jon Voight
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 489User reviews
    • 98Critic reviews
    • 67Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 16 nominations

    Videos2

    Enemy of the State
    Trailer 0:35
    Enemy of the State
    Roles That Tom Cruise Turned Down
    Video 2:22
    Roles That Tom Cruise Turned Down

    Photos79

    Will Smith in Enemy of the State (1998)
    Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State (1998)
    Will Smith and Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State (1998)
    Will Smith and Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State (1998)
    Jerry Bruckheimer, Tony Scott, and Dan Mindel in Enemy of the State (1998)
    Will Smith in Enemy of the State (1998)
    Will Smith in Enemy of the State (1998)
    Will Smith, Regina King, and Jascha Washington in Enemy of the State (1998)
    Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State (1998)
    Will Smith in Enemy of the State (1998)
    Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State (1998)
    Will Smith in Enemy of the State (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Will Smith
    Will Smith
    • Robert Clayton Deanas Robert Clayton Dean
    Gene Hackman
    Gene Hackman
    • Edward Lyleas Edward Lyle…
    Jon Voight
    Jon Voight
    • Thomas Brian Reynoldsas Thomas Brian Reynolds
    Lisa Bonet
    Lisa Bonet
    • Rachel F. Banksas Rachel F. Banks
    Regina King
    Regina King
    • Carla Deanas Carla Dean
    Stuart Wilson
    Stuart Wilson
    • Congressman Sam Albertas Congressman Sam Albert
    Laura Cayouette
    Laura Cayouette
    • Christa Hawkinsas Christa Hawkins
    Loren Dean
    Loren Dean
    • Hicksas Hicks
    Barry Pepper
    Barry Pepper
    • David Prattas David Pratt
    Ian Hart
    Ian Hart
    • Binghamas Bingham
    Jake Busey
    Jake Busey
    • Krugas Krug
    Scott Caan
    Scott Caan
    • Jonesas Jones
    Jason Lee
    Jason Lee
    • Daniel Zavitzas Daniel Zavitz
    Gabriel Byrne
    Gabriel Byrne
    • Brillas Brill
    James Le Gros
    James Le Gros
    • Jerry Milleras Jerry Miller
    Dan Butler
    Dan Butler
    • Shafferas Shaffer
    Jack Black
    Jack Black
    • Fiedleras Fiedler
    Jamie Kennedy
    Jamie Kennedy
    • Jamieas Jamie
    • Director
      • Tony Scott
    • Writer
      • David Marconi
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Robert Clayton Dean (Will Smith) is a mild-mannered lawyer who works in Washington, D.C. He is on the trail of a kingpin named Paulie Pintero (Tom Sizemore). Meanwhile, a politician named Thomas Brian Reynolds (Jon Voight) is negotiating with Representative Phillip Hammersley (Jason Robards, Jr.) about a new surveillance system with satellites. But, Hammersley declines; Reynolds has Hammersley killed, but the murder is caught on tape, and the taper is chased by Reynolds' team of N.S.A. Agents. The guy must ditch the tape, so he plants it on Dean (unbeknownst to Dean). Then, the N.S.A. decides to get into Dean's life. That is when Dean's life began to fall apart all around him, with his wife and job both gone. Dean wants to find out what is going on. Then, he meets a man named "Brill" (Gene Hackman), who tells him that Dean has something that the government wants. Dean and Brill formulate a plan to get Dean's life back and turn the tables on Reynolds. —John Wiggins
    • on the run
    • nsa
    • surveillance
    • political cover up
    • conspiracy
    • 199 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Invasion of Privacy
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language and violence
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The N.S.A. refused to cooperate with the production. Aerial footage of their headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland had to be shot from public air space.
    • Goofs
      It is impossible to obtain a 3D image of the shopping bag (or anything) from one camera feed that the investigators had. Supposing that they had another camera in the store, they would simply have two images from different points of view but the rotating p.o.v. still cannot be achieved this way.
    • Quotes

      Robert Clayton Dean: What the hell is happening?

      Brill: I blew up the building.

      Robert Clayton Dean: Why?

      Brill: Because you made a phone call.

    • Alternate versions
      Also available in an "Unrated Extended Edition" which features some new/extended footage (ca. 7 minutes) like some explicit shots of the senator with his secretary or Dean finding his dead ex-girlfriend covered in blood.
    • Connections
      Edited into 24: 12:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m. (2001)
    • Soundtracks
      O Come All Ye Faithful
      (Also known as "Adeste Fidelis")

      Music attributed to John Reading (uncredited)

      Arranged by Margaret Dorn, Linda Lawley, Danny Pelfrey

      Performed by The Accidentals

      Courtesy of Amusicom Records

    User reviews489

    Review
    Top review
    Good thriller - Hackman makes it
    Sucessful lawyer Robert Dean is passed information by an old friend without noticing. Seconds later that friend is killed and Dean is targeted by a group within the Government who wish to cover up a conspiracy involving the murder of a congressman. With the Government's full weight of surveillance equipment brought to bear Dean turns to ex-NSA agent Brill to help protect him, find the information and get it out into the open.

    This is much better than the ususal summer crash, bang, wallop stuff we usually get fed. It's greatly helped by the sense of paranonia that runs through the whole story from the Government's power and corruption at some levels. The film starts well, with 'everyman' Dean being drawn into a game of cat and mouse, framed for a crime he didn't commit and forced to go on the run from Government agents. Will Smith carries the film only so far but it realy gets interesting when Hackman turns up as Brill. He casts light on the ability of the government and is almost able to play them at their own game. Brill makes an appearance when the film starts to become too much of a staight chase movie.

    To me the use of Hackman as Brill is the best bit of casting ever and makes this film stand out as being clever. In the 70's Hackman played a surveillance expert in Copolla's The Conversation. The film ends with Hackman being monitored himself, with him ripping his house apart looking for the bugs. What makes his casting as Brill so good is that Brill is where Hackman's "The Conversation" character would be 20 years on - it feels like it's the same character again. The director also deserves a lot of praise - he manages to keep the pace up throughout the film, whether it be scenes of chasing action or technological pursuit. The script helps as well - the conspiracy and the paranoia is strong throughout.

    Smith is good in the lead, but he isn't quite as good an "everyman" as classic actors as Cary Grant or James Stewart were. Smith also struggles to carry the whole movie and the chases do get a bit samey after a while. Fortunately Hackman is brilliant as Brill, he is a classy actor and brings a lot of weight to the film just as Smith begins to feel the strain. Jon Voight is also good as the villian of the piece. The supporting cast is deep! There were so many famous faces in small roles that I really felt this was an allstar cast, despite the fact that it's a Smith vehicle. Gabriel Byrne makes a fleeting appearance, Ian Hart is there, Jake Busey (son of Gary) shows up, Jason Lee (actor in many Kevin Smith films) witnesses the murder, a gorgeous Lisa Bonet has a small part, James Le Gros, Regina King etc etc. The cast is well packed with famous faces - they don't all get the chance to put on a show but it adds quality at all levels.

    Overall this is a fancy chase movie, but good direction, a strong and deep cast and a fantastic Hackman all make this film much better than it could have been. The last scene of the film is a little too upbeat but other than that it's pretty good stuff.
    helpful•67
    16
    • bob the moo
    • Dec 21, 2001

    FAQ5

    • is Gene Hackman playing the same character from The Conversation?
    • What is 'Enemy of the State' about?
    • Is 'Enemy of the State' based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 20, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hết Đường Trốn Chạy
    • Filming locations
      • 1633 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Touchstone Pictures
      • Jerry Bruckheimer Films
      • Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $90,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $111,549,836
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $20,038,573
      • Nov 22, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $250,849,789
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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