Enemy of the State

This film has intensity and it excited me when I first saw it. I could do without all the swearing in this film but that is the only negative comment I have. I was introduced to so many actors because of “Enemy of the State” and in some cases, I didn't even know they were in this movie until I went back and watched it. These include Regina King, Jason Lee, Jack Black, Seth Green, Scott Caan, Barry Pepper and Tom Sizemore (the latter two appeared together in "Saving Private Ryan" which was released the same year). I didn't even recognize Stuart Wilson until over a decade later and I saw his name in the credits. The main cast members were very entertaining but that isn’t surprising when you consider the talents of Will Smith, Gene Hackman and Jon Voight. The acting and story are the elements that make this movie thrilling. You root for Robert Dean and the antagonists seem so powerful & knowledgeable that you are kept on the edge of your seat for most of the film.

Sometimes, actors are cast because their “filmography” can influence the role in a positive way. This is my 3rd favorite film with Will Smith. He is acting out the same kind of story as in my #1 and #2 films, being “Independence Day” and “Men in Black” respectively. Roberta Clayton Dean is an everyman who gets caught up in something beyond his understanding but he rises to the occasion using his talents and personality. In “Enemy of the State” however, Will Smith is not playing a hip, young hot shot but instead a family man who is good at his job. Will does bring some humor and hipness to the role but also drama (the same can be said for Jack Black and Seth Green and their roles). I believed Will's performance as a husband and father. The way that Will acts makes it appear that the role was written for him. Gene Hackman is a good contrast to Will and this creates chemistry. Brill is aware of the power of the NSA and is in control of his situation most of the time. When we see Brill for the first time in the film, Hackman creates uneasiness but leaves us no alternative but to trust him. Hackman has played serious bad guys in the past and so we as the audience don’t know what to expect until we get to the roof of the hotel. As he leaves, we welcome Brill’s help in Dean’s situation but we are afraid of what Brill’s next appearance will bring. I can see why Will Smith wanted to work with Hackman. Will's fans were treated to a fresh experience with “Enemy of the State” and Gene Hackman creates a suspicious character to effectively contrast Will’s character. Because my first movie of Jon Voight's was "Mission: Impossible", I was easily able to accept his work as a villain in this show.

The writing is good and the expositional scenes are entertaining in this film. I love the two chase scenes with Zavits and Dean because of the pace of the editing and cinematography. The story itself is dramatic because an ordinary citizen (Dean) unknowingly comes into possession of murder evidence. Then, when he gets a hint that he might have something incriminating, the evidence disappears and ends up in an unlikely place. Dean becomes a fugitive and has to improvise & get wise in order to stay alive. When Dean and Brill finally figure out what the situation is, the evidence is accidentally destroyed. It looks as though all hope of getting things back to normal is lost and I like those moments in movies. Just when hope is possible, Dean and Brill are captured. Suddenly, Dean rises to the occasion by thinking up an “incredibly smart or incredibly stupid” plan that creates resolution and a great payoff at the end of the show. When Brill comes to a realization of Dean’s plan, Hackman creates a look on his face that is so amusing. He seems to be saying to Dean “Are you doing what I think your doing?” but at the same time has an optimistic look. Will responds with a poker face and I love it when characters do that. Because Dean visited Pintero’s earlier, he knows the FBI by now has learned that he is just a labor lawyer. When the FBI sees him and the government vehicle in front of a mob restaurant, red flags go up. Brill uses his own brilliance to raise more flags by getting the FBI to see him and they mistake him as a hurt city cop. All that is needed now is time for the FBI to move in and if Dean can get Reynolds to mistake the tape he wants for the tape that Pintero has, Dean knows that neither Reynolds or Pintero will give in to the other. I don’t think Dean planned to have almost everyone killed in the room except for him but nevertheless; his plan succeeds with Brill watching from the van before subtly leaving. Dean used his knowledge as a lawyer and some luck to expose Reynolds and this makes the scene fun. The whole movie is well crafted to create suspense and as a side note, I find it coincidental that Reynolds was born on September 11.

Another great element in this film is the music. I like how there is a musical theme for the Hammersley murder that reprises when we see the tape footage. The legacy that this film has had on me is that for years, whenever I have been trying to make a quick decision, I snap my fingers just like Brill does in his apartment. When you ignore the swearing on “Enemy of the State”, the acting and story among other qualities take you for a great ride. What makes the movie even more thrilling is the fact that with today’s technology 15 years later, who knows what the government is capable of.

4 Stars