In Enemy of the State, Robert Dean (Will Smith) is a labor lawyer who inadvertently comes into possession of evidence related to a politically motivated crime. Government agents, desperate to cover their tracks, believe Dean is aware of the evidence and proceed to dismantle his life, ruin his reputation, and frame him for various incidents using advanced surveillance technology. To clear his name and regain his life, Dean teams up with the reclusive Brill (Gene Hackman), a former federal employee with expertise and high-tech equipment rivaling the government’s.
Hackman’s character is an extension of Harry Caul from Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 film The Conversation. Will Smith delivers a compelling performance as a man fighting to reclaim his identity and prove his innocence.
Directed by Tony Scott, this intense techno-thriller questions the extent of government surveillance on private citizens and leaves viewers with a sense of unease about Big Brother’s watchful eye. Look out for uncredited appearances by Jason Robards, Seth Green, Tom Sizemore, and Philip Baker Hall.