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Enemy of the State (1998)

tomatometer

70

Average Rating: 6.4/10
Reviews Counted: 83
Fresh: 58 | Rotten: 25

Will Smith gives a charismatic performance in this fast-paced thriller.

62

Average Rating: 6.2/10
Critic Reviews: 21
Fresh: 13 | Rotten: 8

Will Smith gives a charismatic performance in this fast-paced thriller.

audience

76

liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 346,391

My Rating

Movie Info

The action producing-directing team of Jerry Bruckheimer and Tony Scott is back with another thrill-a-minute ride called Enemy of the State. Taking its "innocent man accidentally caught up in political corruption" story from such films as Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation, Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Sydney Pollack's Three Days of the Condor, they turn up the high-tech volume in an attempt to create the ultimate action film. Robert Clayton Dean, played by Will Smith,

R, 2 hr. 30 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

David Marconi

Jun 15, 1999

Buena Vista Pictures

Cast

All Critics (84) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (63) | Rotten (25) | DVD (35)

[Its] spirited action is balanced by an almost contemplative attitude toward surveillance phobias and the movie cliches they've spawned.

March 30, 2009 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Since Scott could not make this film snap, crackle or pop faster or more loudly, you might find the evening a bit light.

July 21, 2005 Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | Comment
Houston Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Hard to sit through.

June 18, 2002 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
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From there, with the mystery entirely gone and the thrills fading fast, the rest is pretty much a two-hour chase sequence, culminating in a hilariously maladroit shoot-out.

March 19, 2002 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | Comment
Globe and Mail
Top Critic IconTop Critic

What do you say about a movie that sends you home in a frenzy to search for bugs? In the new age of Big Brother, that's entertainment.

May 11, 2001 Comment
Rolling Stone
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Practically an elder statesman compared to the technobrats Bruckheimer usually employs, Scott also pays attention to the acting and it pays off.

February 14, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | Comment
Los Angeles Times
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Decent thriller; not suitable for kids.

December 24, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

A highly enjoyable hi-tech thriller.

March 30, 2009 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

A solid thriller that's eerily prescient, given the Patriot Act.

April 15, 2007 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

Distinctly uneven but generally entertaining...

July 22, 2006 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | Comment
Reel Film Reviews

Why now? Don't ask. Just shut up and enjoy the ride

June 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Movie Habit | Comment
Movie Habit

If you want to believe in the dark side of government, we are already past the predictions of Enemy of the State.

June 8, 2006 Full Review Source: 7M Pictures | Comment
7M Pictures

The film is an action adventure first and foremost, and once we absorb that notion, Enemy of the State turns into a satisfying thriller. (Unrated Extended Edition)

May 14, 2006 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

...it's the action, not the acting, that is the key to the movie's success, and that's where it excels with its constant momentum.

May 14, 2006 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

It's got some great action moments, just enough energy to jolt you through the exposition deliveries, and a ridiculously colorful cast to keep your eyeballs busy.

May 14, 2006 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com | Comment
DVDTalk.com

Add Smith's lippy innocent and a host of subcontracted indie fresh faces, and you have the Bruckheimer formula: loud, lavish, seemingly efficient; over-large, over-long, over-plotted. Safe and sorry.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

Who'd have thought I'd miss the subtle touch of the late Don Simpson?

December 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Threat | Comment
Film Threat

O roteiro bem construído e a direçăo enérgica de Scott conferem tensăo ao filme, que também faz uma série de bem-vindas alusőes a A Conversaçăo.

October 3, 2005 Comment
Cinema em Cena

It's good to see an action thriller have a story that has some real meaning and issues that may open quite a few eyes to the fragility of the rights of the individual in a world where things are moving too fast to control.

April 9, 2005 Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | Comment
Reeling Reviews

A super thriller with a great cat... er, cast.

January 28, 2005 Full Review Source: StaciWilson.com | Comment
StaciWilson.com

It satisfies needs of those who crave for quality entertainment as much as the needs of those who like some food for thought.

October 8, 2004 Full Review | Comment
rec.arts.movies.reviews

Preposterous.

October 5, 2003 Comments (2)
rec.arts.movies.reviews
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Enemy of the State

As far as action are concerned, Enemy of the State is pure mindless popcorn flick from start to finish. The film has flaws, but it makes up for it with exciting action. I thought this film fun from start to finish, and with every other Tony Scott flick, he delivered a good action film. The cast do a fine job, and

January 8, 2012
TheDudeLebowski65
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

Not my idea of an enthralling movie, but okay for it's genre, I guess. I was too bored to tell for certain.

December 12, 2007
romy861

Super Reviewer

    1. Robert Clayton Dean: What the hell is happening?
    2. Brill: I blew up the Building.
    3. Robert Clayton Dean: Why?
    4. Brill: Because you made a phone call!
    – Submitted by Noel Joseph B (6 months ago)

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Foreign Titles

  • Ennemi d'État (FR)
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