Enemy of the State MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +3 Content: -2

Attorney Robert Dean (Will Smith) is unwittingly given some very sensitive video material implicating a high-ranking National Security Association(NSA) official, Thomas Reynolds (Jon Voight) ,in a murder. When Reynolds learns of this, he is determined to find Dean and Dean becomes the subject of an all-out manhunt by the NSA with a variety of tracking and pursuit means at their disposal. He turns to a former girlfriend (Lisa Bonet) for help. but his only real chance to clear himself comes from a former intelligence operative, Brill (Gene Hackman), who is able to use the NSA's own tactics against themselves. Brill reluctantly agrees to help and an action packed adventure gets under way. There is a pervasive paranoia about "big brother" watching with bugging devices, spy satellites, and hidden cameras, introducing a political theme about the loss of privacy due to increasing advances in spy technology. Despite its fairly predictable plot, this fast paced thriller is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats with lots of intense chase scenes and political intrigue. ENEMY OF THE STATE is sure to be a box office winner.

This R rated action adventure is less offensive and more intelligent than most R-rated films of this genre. It's rating comes principally from many f and s words and other obscenities and profanities. . And its action based violence becomes graphic and gory at times, including one particularly massive bloody gunplay scene. There's also plenty of striking, car crashes and explosions. Sex and unconventional sex are implied in two bedroom scenes, but no nudity is shown, and some suggestive innuendoes are also included. In spite of these unfortunate elements, the story remains primarily an intense political thriller about paranoia and the loss of privacy in today's technological society. The subject matter of ENEMY OF THE STATE would be appropriate even for teenagers if the sexual content and foul language had not been included. As it stands, though, this intriguing story falls victim to the usual Hollywood offensive elements.

Preview Reviewer: Cliff McNeely
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, Ca 91521