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Enemy of the State
EMAILPRINTBuena Vista Pictures
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 22 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 9 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Suspense/Thriller
Written by: David Marconi
Directed by: Tony Scott
Release Date:
Theatrical: November 16, 1998
DVD: April 2, 2002
Running Time: 131 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: R for language and violence
Starring Will Smith, Gene Hackman, Jon Voight, Lisa Bonet, Regina King, Stuart Wilson, Barry Pepper, and Ian Hart
A successful lawyer finds himself the target of a treacherous NSA official and his goons after receiving evidence about a politically motivated murder.
Also On Metacritic
FILM: Crimson Tide Days of Thunder Deja Vu Domino Man on Fire Spy Game The Fan The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 True Romance
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
USA Today Mike Clark
The picture is solidly crafted, performed to the hilt and full of humor.
Read Full Review >Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan
An enormously entertaining visit to planet paranoia, but its escapist pleasures titillate only in direct proportion to the degree of persecution complex that you bring into the theater with you.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Elvis Mitchell
It has a hurtling pace, nonstop intensity and a stylish, appealing performance by Will Smith in his first real starring role.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan
A solid and satisfying commercial venture with more than enough pizazz to overcome occasional lapses in moment-to-moment plausibility.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone Peter Travers
Bruckheimer and director Tony Scott have wisely set their course by Will Smith, who is sensational in a dramatic role that leans on him to carry a movie without the help of aliens or Big Willie-style jokes for every occasion.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov
A kicky, knockout thriller that ingeniously taps into the current climate of paranoia surrounding personal privacy in the Information Age.
Read Full Review >San Francisco Examiner Edvins Beitiks
Everything you would want from a Big Brother film: Good-looking, preachy in an Old West kind of way, wobbling between humor and murder, hellbent and periodically brilliant.
Read Full Review >Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
In too much of a hurry to be much of a people picture. And the standoff at the end edges perilously close to the ridiculous, for a movie that's tried so hard to be plausible.
Read Full Review >ReelViews James Berardinelli
It offers a solid two hours of pure, escapist entertainment.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Staff(not credited)
A high-adrenaline, high-concept action thriller that mixes hot-button issues of privacy and surveillance, easy-to-identify good and bad guys, attention-getting stars, and well-choreographed chase scenes.
Read Full Review >Newsweek Jack Kroll
The scary fun of the movie is embodied in a brilliantly filmed and edited chase sequence in which Smith tries to escape the ubiquitous cyber-eyes that see every inch of his flight.
Read Full Review >Village Voice Dennis Lim
Enemy of the State isn't really a smart film, but it makes a concerted stab at pretending to be one.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector
The social criticism is as unforced as the humor (and the references to "The Conversation") in this 1998 conspiracy thriller, whose spirited action is balanced by an almost contemplative attitude toward surveillance phobias and the movie cliches they've spawned.
Read Full Review >Variety Emanuel Levy
Sporadically entertaining, though it lacks the kind of political urgency and emotional resonance so crucial to many similarly themed '70s movies.
Read Full Review >LA Weekly Manohla Dargis
This paranoid thriller has all the failings we expect...but Enemy of the State also has enough wit, talent and narrative thrust to mostly transcend those flaws, at least until that ludicrous finish.
Read Full Review >Washington Post Rita Kempley
The dazzle doesn't make up, however, for the movie's lack of depth.
Read Full Review >TV Guide Maitland McDonagh
Tony Scott's thriller is flashy, but it's not dead stupid and it's never dull.
Read Full Review >The New Yorker David Denby
The movie goes like the wind, but it's more a technological exercise than anything else.
Read Full Review >Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt
The movie has plenty of high-tech power, spinning out action so explosive you'll hardly notice how preposterous the story is or how cardboard-thin the characters are.
Read Full Review >Film Threat Ron Wells
The strong parts are the rip-offs of "The Conversation." The worst part is the lack of understandable character motivations.
Read Full Review >San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle
A frustrating film that feels cobbled together.
Read Full Review >Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington
To say Enemy of the State is senseless is an understatement. This is a movie where logic is the enemy.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 7.2 (out of 10) based on 9 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
G-Rad A. gave it a10:
Truly a Jerry Bruckheimer masterpiece.
Jared C. gave it a0:
The violence is top notch, the language and dialogue is perfect, the story is great, but the engagement is nothing, I had a blank brain of interest for this film.
raVen gave it an 8:
8 points added for good acting. 2 points subtracted for inspiring Ashcroft.
John O. gave it a 7:
An interesting movie, but not very memorable. It's nice to see veterans like Jon Voight and Gene Hackman on the screen again, though.
Pat C. gave it a 5:
Watchable and forgettable. I sat mesmerized. What was it about?
Rick J. G. gave it a 5:
A flick for the paranoid conspiracy crowd, no doubt. Actually, this movie was my first exposure to the NSA. The movie is a non-stop chase, and it never takes a time out to allow the viewer to get to know the characters. Too bad they couldn't think of a better way to end it than a predictable, lame brain shoutout scene. The ending detracts from the movie more than any other scene.
