Enemy of the State
Enemy of the State

Movie spotlight

Enemy of the State

2011
Movie
97 min
German

The story of the complex man and 75-year-old writer named Paul Gratzik, who worked as a Stasi informant in the GDR and was known as a “man of extremes”. However, after spying on friends and colleagues for more than 20 years, Gratzik decided to voluntarily expose himself in the 1980s.

Insights

IMDb7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes73%
Metacritic69/100
Google Users84%
Director: Tony ScottGenres: Action, Thriller, Mystery, Crime

Plot Summary

A lawyer becomes the target of a ruthless NSA agent after unknowingly receiving evidence of a politically motivated murder. He must go on the run, aided by a reclusive former intelligence operative, to clear his name and expose the conspiracy before he is silenced permanently. The film explores themes of government surveillance and the loss of privacy in the digital age.

Critical Reception

Enemy of the State was a commercial success and received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its fast-paced action, suspenseful plot, and strong performances, particularly from Will Smith and Gene Hackman. Some critics noted the film's prescient commentary on surveillance, which became even more relevant in subsequent years.

What Reviewers Say

  • A gripping and suspenseful thriller with a timely message about government overreach.

  • Will Smith delivers a compelling performance as an everyman thrust into a conspiracy.

  • Gene Hackman provides strong support as a paranoid former intelligence expert.

Google audience: Audience reviews highlight the film's exciting action sequences and suspenseful storyline, with many appreciating Will Smith's performance and the movie's relevant themes about privacy and surveillance.

Fun Fact

The film's depiction of advanced surveillance technology, including satellite tracking and data interception, was considered quite futuristic at the time of its release but has since become increasingly commonplace.

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