Enemy Of The State Released by:
Touchstone Home Video - Buena Vista Home VideoFeatures:
1998; 132 Min; Rated R; Dolby Digital: 5.1 English; Widescreen (2.35).Extras:
Theatrical Trailers, 2 Production FeaturettesReview:
"It's not paranoia if they're really after you..." This is the tag line to the most recent Jerry Bruckheimer production to be let loose onto DVD, Enemy of the State. Will Smith stars with Gene Hackman is this well paced thriller directed by action master Tony Scott.John Voight plays the head of a mysterious branch of the NSA. He is trying to push a bill through congress that allows his agency to eavesdrop with no restrictions. At least that's what I think, but that not the point. Voight has killed a senator that was opposed to a bill that would help his plans.
Will Smith plays Roger Dean, a Washington labor lawyer, who has been given a copy of the senator's murder. The trick is, he doesn't even know it. Dean is slipped a copy of the disc, while shopping for his wife's christmas gift. Before he know it, the man who slipped him the disc, a fellow alumni from Georgetown, has been fubared by a fire engine on a busy city street.
In the process of trying to get the evidence back, Voight is hell bent on destroying Dean's life. Dean is discredited, financially destroyed and looses his job, and that's just the start. Dean must turn to a mysterious contact named Brill (Gene Hackman), who had previously helped him obtain a tape of a notorious mafia boss. Brill unwillingly helps Dean straighten out his life, while worrying his cover has been blown. By the way, did I mention that Brill is an ex-member of the same agency Voight works for? I don't want give ti much of the plot away ,so I'll stop here.
Tony Scott has once again shown his talent for creating quick, taught, action pictures. While not held in the same high regard as his brother Ridley, Tony has consistently cranked out hit after hit, some smaller than others, but none have really been a failure. Does anyone remember Ridley's 1492? I didn't think so. Tony Scott and Bruckheimer have delivered once again as a team, following-up their previous efforts of Top Gun, Days Of Thunder, Beverly Hills Cop II (where's this series?) and Crimson Tide. Enemy of the State has been shot in Tony Scott's trademark quick, MTV/commercial style. While this can sometimes be mind-numbing, I've grown accustomed to it. The pace Scott sets helps add to the tension, and paranoia of the film.
On a technical level, the disc looks great, unlike some of Disney's recent catalog efforts, it's apparent they took some time with the transfer of this film. As usual, it is not anamorphically enhanced for 16X9. The audio is near reference quality. The opening credits, with the swirling sounds, and thumping score by Trevor Rabin and Harry Gregson-Williams, will test any system. Some of the transition sound effects were also impressive, such as the satellites that sweep by from time to time, to get a new fix on someone.
This film seems to have been somewhat forgotten when compared to other Bruckheimer efforts, at least that's what I've seen at work. If your a fan of any of the principle actors, Jerry Bruckheimer or Tony Scott, this disc is a must have. Definitely take to time to at least rent this action thriller...
On a scale of 1 to 10, the movie ranks a 7.5, my weakness for Tony Scott action flicks shows...
On a scale of 1 to 10, I'll give this presentation a 7, with no Bonus Biscuits
Dan Linzmeier, FIT Productions
Fitprod@aol.com
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