The Take
Enemy of the State earns a watch for its tight 90s conspiracy engine that still feels uncomfortably current. Will Smith plays the relatable everyman lawyer who gets the wrong tape and must run, while Gene Hackman supplies the grizzled tech paranoia that anchors the whole thing.
The Verdict
The film trades in classic Hollywood thrills but lands its privacy warnings without preaching. Smith sells the panic, Hackman sells the competence, and the practical set pieces still deliver.
Watch it.
Common Questions
What is Enemy of the State about?
A lawyer ends up on the run after receiving evidence of an NSA assassination.
Is Enemy of the State based on a true story?
No. Pure fiction that drew from real surveillance concerns of the era.
Does Enemy of the State still hold up?
Yes. The tech paranoia feels sharper now than in 1998.
