Enemy of the State
From Metaverse
Robert Clayton Dean (Will Smith) is a lawyer with a wife and family whose happily normal life is turned upside down after a random meeting with an old college friend Daniel Zavitz (Jason Lee) at a lingerie shop. Zavitz has just been burdened with a videotape of a congressman's assassination. A ruthless group of National Security Agents (NSA) commanded by an intensely ambitious fed named Reynolds (Jon Voight) will not be happy until they have the tape in their hands. Using specially-designed surveillance from satellites, bugs, and other sophisticated snooping devices, the NSA infiltrates literally every part of Dean's life, tracing each physical and digital footprint he leaves. Driven by extreme paranoia, Dean desperately asks for the help of a former NSA operative named Brill (Gene Hackman), and Enemy of the State kicks into high gear.
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Characters
Will Smith .... Robert Clayton Dean- A young, successful, hotshot D.C. Union lawyer with a loving family attempting to extricate a couple of his clients from the attentions of a mobster, Pintero
Gene Hackman .... Edward 'Brill' Lyle- Surveillance expert that helps Dean through his journey
Jon Voight .... Thomas Brian Reynolds- A senior member of a government intelligence agency
Lisa Bonet .... Rachel F. Banks- Robert Dean's ex-girlfriend, served as anintermediary between Robert Dean and Brill.
Regina King .... Carla Dean- Robert's wife, also a lawyer
Stuart Wilson .... Congressman Sam Albert- In desperate need of passing a new bill, murders his counterpart and plots against Robert Dean in order to recover the evidence
Jason Lee .... Daniel Leon Zavitz- Dean's college buddy,burdened with a videotape of a congressman's assassination
Themes, Symbols, Motifs
Networks/Satellites- shows government control over the people
Film Noir- main chase scene is dark and rainy
Color black- black cars, black Fed uniforms- symbolic of government control
Cyber punk- computer operator look
Glasses- all characters wear glasses, to hide identity
Discussion Questions
1. Should the government be able to "tap" into the citizens lives like the movie portrays?
2. Discuss the archetypal hero journey.
3. Do you think the Patriot Act is similar to the government actions in Enemy of the State?
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