Will Smith’s Secret Thriller Is a Hidden Sequel to a Classic!

Will Smith is undeniably one of the most versatile and engaging actors in Hollywood, with a career spanning several decades. He’s starred in films across various genres, making him a captivating presence in the film industry. Many argue that his golden age was during the 1990s, when he started climbing the ladder to superstardom. Movies like “Bad Boys”, “Independence Day”, and “Men in Black” catapulted Will Smith into household fame and solidified him as a modern Hollywood icon.

Following his initial significant victories, Will Smith collaborated with director Tony Scott on one of his lesser-known masterpieces from the 1990s – the 1998 conspiracy thriller, “Enemy of the State.” Starring Gene Hackman, this film was highly successful and marked a change for Smith, who had primarily appeared in mainstream blockbusters. What set “Enemy of the State” apart, however, was its connection to one of director Francis Ford Coppola’s overlooked films – 1974’s “The Conversation.” In essence, “Enemy of the State” can be seen as a spiritual successor to “The Conversation.

Enemy of the State Is A Pulse-Pounding Thriller That Hasn’t Aged A Day

The Paranoid Nature of the Film Remains Frighteningly Accurate Today

The movie “Enemy of the State,” starring Smith, revolves around a successful lawyer who becomes ensnared in a chilling government conspiracy. Remarkably, its exploration of surveillance, government corruption, and individual identity within large systems remains strikingly contemporary even after 27 years. The way it tackles such ideas is nothing short of brilliant. Smith’s character often finds himself at a disadvantage despite his obvious intelligence, as the complexity and magnitude of his adversary in the film make his struggle seem almost impossible to win.

The opening part of the movie meticulously sets up an impossible-to-escape predicament for Will Smith’s character. The film’s stylish and contemporary tech aspects complement the chilling modernity of its villains. By chance, ordinary people come across proof of government officials’ wrongdoings, igniting a chain reaction that leads to some of the most exhilarating, pulse-pounding, and emotionally captivating action sequences in ’90s thriller cinema. In Enemy of the State, Smith delivers his usual charm, but instead of his natural charisma taking center stage, an intense fear of danger and a sense of being out of his depth permeate every scene he’s in.

Robert Dean from Smith’s storyline has found an unlikely companion in Brill, who has chosen isolation to avoid detection by the ever-watchful surveillance state evolving in modern America. Hackman’s Brill, with a past steeped in surveillance and espionage, offers a backstory shrouded in mystery before the film begins. Brill provides assistance to Dean, helping him confront the notion that the government is working against him and there’s no higher power to seek help from. This theme mirrors Hackman’s character, given his inspiration for portrayal.

Enemy of the State Is Tony Scott’s Loving Homage To The Conversation

The Francis Ford Coppola Film Mirrors Much of Enemy of the State

In the realm of American cinema, Francis Ford Coppola stands out as one of the most legendary and impactful directors. Famous for films like “The Godfather” (1972), “The Godfather Part II” (1974), “Apocalypse Now” (1979), and others, Coppola solidified his status as a cinematic titan during his time. To this very day, his work is still held in high esteem, often considered among the finest ever produced by the medium. While “The Godfather” and its sequel are frequently praised as his masterpieces, some argue that his most personal, low-key film, “The Conversation,” released in 1974, is his best work.

In “The Conversation,” Gene Hackman plays Harry Caul, a private investigator specializing in surveillance work. When he surreptitiously records a conversation between two individuals and believes them to be in peril, his life starts to crumble, exposing his growing unease about his own privacy and safety. This revelation delves into his past regrets about his profession, his personal guilt, and his involvement with larger malevolent forces. “The Conversation” is one of the most outstanding films of the 1970s due to its intimate and intense portrayal of a character, and Hackman’s performance is nothing short of captivating. His skill as an actor has never been more evident than in this film.

In his work, Director Tony Scott openly acknowledged his debt to the 1970s conspiracy thrillers, with “Enemy of the State” being heavily influenced by this genre. The casting of Gene Hackman as Brill, a paranoid surveillance expert, in “Enemy of the State” was no mere coincidence; it was a deliberate nod to his character Harry Caul from “The Conversation.” This is evident in the near replica of one of “The Conversation’s” most memorable scenes in “Enemy of the State,” suggesting that the similarities between the two films were not accidental. Essentially, Hackman’s portrayal of Brill was meant to echo or pay tribute to his earlier role as Harry Caul, with both performances complementing each other remarkably well. The chemistry between Hackman and Will Smith in “Enemy of the State” feels authentic, reflecting the character development of Harry Caul from 1974. Both characters are pieces in a larger, intricate game, one that keeps them perpetually on edge, a theme Hackman had previously explored in “The Conversation.

Both Films Still Feel Incredibly Prescient Today

The Conversation and Enemy of the State Haven’t Aged A Day

After half a century since its debut, it’s remarkable how fresh and contemporary The Conversation continues to feel. Its depiction of the surveillance era, the characters involved, and the impact on those closely connected to the storyline has kept viewers captivated for generations. Although it may not have garnered the same level of fame or historical significance as The Godfather films, The Conversation has consistently remained a favorite among fans of mystery and political intrigue. It’s one of the finest examples in the genre, and the fact that it inspired such a high-profile spiritual sequel in Enemy of the State speaks volumes about its impact on filmmaking.

Enemy of the State might have been just another forgettable film about government surveillance if not for its deeply authentic perspective, powerful political and social relevance, and rich subtext that continue to resonate today. Instead of Smith’s character serving as a mere entry point into this strange and frightening realm, he becomes our window, while Hackman provides the navigation through the gloomy abyss of despair. Together, their on-screen chemistry is nothing short of spectacular, making Enemy of the State a worthy heir to the thought-provoking and emotionally engaging narrative of The Conversation.

In simpler terms, Gene Hackman was a giant in cinema, and his character in The Conversation demonstrated this perfectly. He always understood the nature of the roles he took on and executed them with both weight and emotional authenticity. Similarly, Will Smith’s performance in Enemy of the State showed early on that he was not just a popular Hollywood star, but someone capable of delivering depth and emotion to his characters. Interestingly, both The Conversation from 1974 and Enemy of the State from 1998 remain as relevant today as they were back then, each tackling similar themes and characters with an ease that makes it seem effortless.

2025-07-05 01:12