A review by Brooks Rich
We now arrive at the film I think really first showed Tony Scott's trademark editing. It was present in his other films but Enemy of the State really is held together by the chaotic editing he was known for. I am not saying that to talk shit on the film. I love this movie. This is a fun film and one of Will Smith's best performances.
Smith is Robert Clayton Dean, a DC area lawyer who is sucked into the cover up of a politically motivated murder. Soon his entire life is being taken apart by a corrupt section of the NSA. Dean must turn to the mysterious Brill, played by the immortal Gene Hackman, to give him any chance of clearing his name and getting his life back.
This is another one where I don't want to spoil any story beats. This is not a film to watch if you are paranoid about government surveillance. Scott does a great job of making it feel like a fully realized possibility. They can watch you and find you, anywhere you go. We see them just take apart Smith's life. This is really the first film where mega Hollywood superstar Will Smith plays a character who is not in control. It's so interesting to see an actor like him play someone so helpless. He does fight back but not in the usual action movie way.
I have raved time and time again about Tony Scott's cast and this is another insane one. Of course we have Smith and Hackman. Our villain is played by Jon Voight and a minor villain is played by Tom Sizemore. Voight's main henchman is character actor Barry Pepper and he's supported by Scott Caan and Jake Busey. Seth Green and Jack Black are also on Voight's team. Jason Lee plays an ill-fated photographer, Lisa Bonet is a troubled young woman Smith has history with, and Gabriel Byrne makes a small cameo. The murder victim at the start is played by the legendary Jason Robards and recent academy award winner Regina King plays Smith's wife. That's the power of Will Smith in the '90s though. He was the lead of that cast. Holy shit!
Scott shoots the hell out of this movie. This film is gorgeous and the action scenes feel steeped in reality. That's the thing about Scott. There's also a hint of reality to his movies. They don't feel exaggerated like some Hollywood productions. This is a great film to double feature with another Tony Scott movie I'll cover soon, Spy Game. Both deal with our government turning against us but in a different way. Check this out if you haven't seen it and remember. It's not paranoia if they're really after you.
We now arrive at the film I think really first showed Tony Scott's trademark editing. It was present in his other films but Enemy of the State really is held together by the chaotic editing he was known for. I am not saying that to talk shit on the film. I love this movie. This is a fun film and one of Will Smith's best performances.
Smith is Robert Clayton Dean, a DC area lawyer who is sucked into the cover up of a politically motivated murder. Soon his entire life is being taken apart by a corrupt section of the NSA. Dean must turn to the mysterious Brill, played by the immortal Gene Hackman, to give him any chance of clearing his name and getting his life back.
This is another one where I don't want to spoil any story beats. This is not a film to watch if you are paranoid about government surveillance. Scott does a great job of making it feel like a fully realized possibility. They can watch you and find you, anywhere you go. We see them just take apart Smith's life. This is really the first film where mega Hollywood superstar Will Smith plays a character who is not in control. It's so interesting to see an actor like him play someone so helpless. He does fight back but not in the usual action movie way.
I have raved time and time again about Tony Scott's cast and this is another insane one. Of course we have Smith and Hackman. Our villain is played by Jon Voight and a minor villain is played by Tom Sizemore. Voight's main henchman is character actor Barry Pepper and he's supported by Scott Caan and Jake Busey. Seth Green and Jack Black are also on Voight's team. Jason Lee plays an ill-fated photographer, Lisa Bonet is a troubled young woman Smith has history with, and Gabriel Byrne makes a small cameo. The murder victim at the start is played by the legendary Jason Robards and recent academy award winner Regina King plays Smith's wife. That's the power of Will Smith in the '90s though. He was the lead of that cast. Holy shit!
Scott shoots the hell out of this movie. This film is gorgeous and the action scenes feel steeped in reality. That's the thing about Scott. There's also a hint of reality to his movies. They don't feel exaggerated like some Hollywood productions. This is a great film to double feature with another Tony Scott movie I'll cover soon, Spy Game. Both deal with our government turning against us but in a different way. Check this out if you haven't seen it and remember. It's not paranoia if they're really after you.
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