Robert Clayton Dean (Will Smith) as an ordinary lawyer who stumbles into a raw, dirty conspiracy after discovering evidence tied to a senator’s murder — and then finds himself hunted by a rogue NSA cell. He reluctantly joins forces with Brill (Gene Hackman), a haunted former operative, and suddenly every camera, cellphone, and piece of data is a weapon.

On this episode of Clear and Present Dudes we put on a VPN, stop making calls (even from a payphone), and go deep underground to litigate Tony Scott’s 1998 techno‑paranoia thriller Enemy of the State.

We break down how the movie uses surveillance tech, tradecraft, and political paranoia to drive nonstop action and moral complexity: wiretaps and wireframes, whistleblowers and cover‑ups, high‑speed chases and deepcover tradeoffs. Expect a scene‑by‑scene look at the most thrilling set pieces, a chat about the film’s take on privacy vs. security, and why Enemy of the State still matters for anyone interested in spy thrillers, surveillance movies, and political conspiracy films. If you’re searching for an Enemy of the State podcast, Will Smith movie review, or spy thriller discussion, this episode’s for you.

Of course, Ruari continues his book report on Tom Clancy's The Bear and the Dragon too!