When I saw “Enemy of
the State” in 1998 I loved it as a shockingly smart, electric child to the 1974
classic thriller “The Conversation.” Will Smith here plays a D.C. lawyer
trapped in an impossible conspiracy involving the National Security Agency,
portrayed as a power-mad and secret-crazed demon of data collection, snooping, and
illegal spying, with anyone in its way, hunted for life or left for dead. “There’s no such thing
as privacy,” one character says. Director Tony Scott (RIP) and his writers must
have seen the future. This is our reality. Our now. The NSA owns us. We willingly
gave ourselves over. Now, the great cinematic trick: When Smith’s lawyer –
arrogant, a cheater, way too assured of himself – falls hard, his only savior
is an ex-snoop played by Gene Hackman, who played an expert snooper in
“Conversation.” The casting is genius. Smart. Instant built-in background. The character
names may be different, but the faces match. Fast paced with crackling dialogue
and action, I once got a giddy charge out of nerds at computers handed the
power of America. Now I see it as evil truth. Name one other film more precognisant. A
Lean on Pete
7 years ago
