Movie of the Week: Enemy of the State

   

 

    Movie of the Week (6/9/13-6/15/13): Just think for a minute, and tell yourself how scary would it be if your government was chasing you for reasons you don't know. This is what happens in the movie Enemy of the State, although the main character eventually figures out why he is being chased, for most of the movie he does not know. The film focuses on a lawyer, Robert Clayton Dean, played by Will Smith, who is slipped evidence of a political murder by a man he had not seen in a long time. After that a politician, part of the NSA, sends his agents out to get him and retrieve the evidence, but Mr. Dean seeks the help of a man who's a friend of an acquaintance of his.
    The film opens with the murder that is caught on tape, the piece of evidence that is slipped to Mr. Dean. Once the tape is slipped in his bag his life is turned completely upside down and the movie takes a very fast paced turn. Mr. Dean is also trying to take down a head of the mob, who eventually wants to kill him, prior to being pursued by the NSA, and he uses this to his aide in the end. Once this takes place we are taken on a thrill ride that includes car chases, foot chases, and a very intense shootout in the climax.
    The cast does a fantastic job, starting with Will Smith, who gives one of his best performances. We also have Gene Hackman, who plays Edward Lyle or Brill, the man who helps Mr. Dean, there is also Jon Voight who plays the corrupt politician that committed the murder, and Regina King as Carla Dean, Robert's wife, who also goes through a lot of panic when their bank accounts are cancelled along with everything else that goes wrong. The men who are actually chasing Mr. Dean include actors like Barry Pepper, Jake Busey, Scott Caan, Jamie Kennedy, Jack Black, and Seth Green. All of who you will love to hate because of the manner in which they pursue him, plus they always show up!
    This movie was directed the late Tony Scott, who was on a downfall with movies prior to his death, but this one is probably one of his best ones. He gives us his trademark filming techniques with short cut scenes and fast camera movements, and in a movie like this it adds to the excitement because of the intense chases, which we all love. With Scott's filming style comes great editing, this film has some of the best because of the many quick cut scenes that we have, including in the dialogue scenes. There is also a cool sounding score to go with this thanks to Trevor Rabin, again this also adds to the excitement.
    In the end this is a very fun movie, not Oscar material, except for possibly the editing, but this film serves as a mix between a good popcorn flick and a drama. We have some good action sequences to keep our attention and sometimes keep us sweating non-stop, but there is also some good drama scenes that help with the plot. It is well written, again having a good mix in it, although it is not a perfect movie it is one to remember in the action genre and less in the drama genre. This film has what most people now like, good and fun action scenes, which is what Tony Scott was all about, but not enough drama to mix in with it, Oscar worthy that is. But, nevertheless I did like this movie because it kept me sweating in many scenes and I liked Will Smith's performance, although it is not near the top of the list when it comes to the best films of 1998.                                               
3/4 Stars.