Enemy of the State (DVD 2001)

This is an exciting paranoia picture which adds an ultra-tech sheen to territory already well trod in 'The Pelican Brief', 'The Net', 'Chai nReaction' and 'The Fugitive', and subsequently by 'Minority Report'. The essence of the story is the same - a law abiding citizen becomes an incidental victim of a cover up for a corruption scandal. Instead ofrolling over and dying like everyone else, the innocent man goes on therun, during which time he loses all the usual aspects of his identity. The whole power of the state of is focussed on capturing him, but somehow h eeludes them, finally bringing the information that justifies him and allows him to return to his life.
This film ups the ante in various ways, treading enough new territory tomake it genuinely memorable.
First, it moves much faster than any of its predecessors. Will Smith is a fast-talking fast-mover in any film, but here the director has wisely subdued Smith's trademark comic repartee, making him a lean, mean actionhero.
Second, it wires up the technology to a fever pitch. Satellites that can resolve a human face, computer enhancement technology that can 'see' the other side of an object. Somehow, though, the film manages to keep the highest of the hi-tech credible, although, as another reviewer has said, if we really had this technology they would have got Osama bin Laden years ago.
Third, Smith gradually discovers a former NSA specialist known as 'Brill', played by Gene Hackman. This is a whole new twist on the paranoia picture, because Hackman is able to neatly turn the tables on Will Smith's persecutors, putting them through the same pattern of smear and depersonalisation that they used on him. Ultimately, the exciting and unexpected shoot-out that Smith and Sheen bring about is not enough to get the evidence they need. So...
Finally, it's an honest NSA agent, played by Jack Black, who decides to record the villain's confession and saves the day - a touching and faith-restoring end to this movie, nicely prepared for by Black's doubts at the start.
There's a lot of innovation in this well made and nicely balanced film. Ultimately it doesn't achieve the depth of 'the Fugitive', and the political backdrop is less developed than 'The Pelican Brief'. But it does stand head and shoulders above most of the rest of the paranoia-picture crowd.
Well worth purchasing, then: this _is_ a film you will want to see more than twice.