Textual analysis 5

2. Introduction
Enemy of the state is a film about a man who has video evidence of a crime but doesn’t realise due to the fact
they didn’t have any intention of having it. This becomes problematic when a corrupt member of the
government wants this piece of evidence and sends a task force after the unsuspecting, unfortunate
person who was given the video (protagonist). Therefore the story is based not on a man but the still
present corruption of higher powers which is shown with the American government.
“Robert Dean is a mild-mannered lawyer who works in Washington D.C. He is on the trail of a Mafia kingpin
named Pintero. Meanwhile, a politician named Thomas Reynolds is negotiating with Congressman Phillip
Hammersley about a new surveillance system with satellites. But, Hammersley declines, that is when
Reynolds had Hammersley killed, but this murder was caught on tape, and this person was being chased
by Reynolds' team of NSA agents, the guy must ditch the tape, so he plants it on Dean (unbeknownst to
Dean). Then, the NSA decides to get into Dean's life. That is when Dean's life began to fall apart all around
him, with his wife and job both gone. Dean wants to find out what is going on. Then, he meets a man
named "Brill" who tells him that Dean has something that the government wants. That is when Dean and
Brill formulate a plan to get Dean's life back and turn the Tables on Reynolds.”
IMDb

3. Characters/Movie producers
• Directed by Tony Scott
• Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer
• Written by David Marconi
• Starring: Will Smith, GeneHackman, Jon Voight, jack
Black
• Music by Harry Gregson-Williams,Trevor Rabin
• Cinematography Dan Mindel
• Edited by Chris Lebenzon
• Production company Touch stone Pictures, Jerry
Bruckheimer Films, Scott Free Productions
• Distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

4. Box office/other info
• Release date: November 20, 1998
• Running time: 132 minutes
• Country: United States
• Language: English
• Budget: $90 million
• Box office: $250.6 million

5. Genre
The genre is more thriller than anything but does have elements of action. This
therefore means that this is a sub genre meaning that there isn’t just one theme for
example horror, action, comedy. Instead it’s a combination of two. The film can be
seen as a bit Cliché due to the fact that lots of films include chase scenes or the
theme of being hunted by a higher power but it’s still one of the first to do so.
Rotten Tomotato :Critics Consensus: An entertaining, topical thriller that finds director
Tony Scott on solid form and Will Smith confirming his action headliner status.
Wiki: Enemy of the State is a 1998 American spy-thriller about a group of U.S. National
Security Agency agents conspiring to kill a U.S. Congressman and the cover up that
ensues after a tape of the murder is discovered. It was written by David Marconi,
directed by Tony Scott, and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. It stars Will Smith and
Gene Hackman, with Jon Voight, Lisa Bonet, and Regina King in supporting roles.
Amazon instant video: Drama, Thriller, Action, Mystery
Netflix: Thrillers, Action Thrillers, Political Thrillers, Crime Thrillers, Suspense,
Blockbusters

6. Repertoire Of Elements
Characters; Robert Clayton Dean (Will Smith),
Edward Lyle (Gene Hackman)
Audience; Older, possibly male viewers due to
the action and thriller elements of it (not
being sexist)
Settings; Washington, USA
Themes; Good Vs Evil, state superiority,

7. Mise en scene
Props: In this picture there are no props
Costume: Will Smiths clothes show that he is a professional (lawyer) in
the film and dresses smart because of the fact he’s wearing a suit. However this
contrasts with Gene Hackman character in the background as his character wants
to be invisible. It could also show how Will Smith is the main protagonist and Gene
Hackman is almost his sidekick. Gene Hackman is dressed in normal cloths as he’s
a normal man in the 90’s and doesn’t want to stand out.
Setting: Washington D.C.
Performance: Seeing as this is quite a serious film the facial expressions by Will Smith
and Gene Hackman are negative, and concerned. Will Smith is confrontational due
to the fact that he has to stand up to the threat of the protagonist by risking
everything to regain his life that has been taken by agencies of the state.
Light/colour: The colour is one which looks like it has been taken by a camera as this
film is about surveillance and therefore CCTV cameras.
Composition: The Contracts of the two pictures demonstrate how Will Smith went
from a respectable lawyer into a fugitive on the run.

8. Relevance/Relation
The reason I have chosen this film to analyse is because I think it
will link in with our idea for a drama like thriller with a chase
through the two minute film.
I really liked the film in general and thought that it would be a
good film to analyse due to the comparisons of the ideas we
already had discussed.

9. First scene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3IU6...
The first Scene has been put onto my blog so
you can check it out there. This link will take
you to the same video but on YouTube.

10. Analysing First Scene
In the first scene it shows a man in an isolated area in a nature reserve with his dog. It then
goes to a man who talks to him and the mans facial expression/speech is impacted
negatively and he is obviously not pleased to see this man. This can be seen when he
says “Damn it” when he is aware of his presence.
The scene progresses and they both go and talk by the lake. The conversation seems to be
one which will unravel later on as we don’t know what’s going on at this point. This
however portrays a mysterious unknowingness of what is really going on which relates
to what we want to do as we have a rather secretive, mysterious ongoing in our two
minute film.
The Character seems to deny any type of relation to what the man is saying and seems to
not want any part of it. They sit down on a bench and discuss information regarding the
central intelligence agency and the wider use of surveillance on citizens
of the USA.

11. Type Of Shots In Film
High to low angle Over the shoulder angleThree shot
Close-up
Medium close up

12. Editing types
• Continuity editing: This is the type of editing which we are most
familiar with. It creates a continuity of narrative without the audience
having to watch events in real time which would be very boring to
watch. For example, if you see a shot of someone getting into a car and
driving off, followed by a shot of them arriving somewhere , you will
naturally assume they have driven to that place, even though you
haven’t watched the entire journey.
• Non-continuity editing: This is a type of editing that, unlike continuity
editing, deliberately disrupts the linear progression of the narrative to
create a specific effects. For example, sometimes in film, we see a
flashback of a character’s past to allow the audience to learn more
about them. The audience really notices (and is supposed to
notice) this type of editing, as it is used to create a specific
effect, or help tell the story more effectively.

13. Editing transitions
• Cut – A cut is the most common method of linking two
shots together.
• Fade- A fade is when a shot fades down to black then fades
up from black revealing a different shot. This type of
transition is often used to show the passing of time or a
change of place/action.
• Dissolve/mix – A mix is when one shot merges into another
one, so at one point, both images are visible on screen. This
type of transition can again be shown the passing of time. It
can also often used to lead into a dream sequence or a
flashback.
• Wipes – a wipe Is when one shot physically wipes over
another one and replaces it.

14. Editing in terms of the film
The editing was rapid and many drone shots were used to portray the big
brother styled surveillance, viewed with rapid cross-cutting to represent
the amount of surveillance which takes place and the lengths which are
taken to track one wanted suspect. As a viewer, particularly in this film I
notice that the cutting is very fast, during the chase scenes/action scenes.
There are also many quick and rapid cuts from one angle of the action
taking place to the other, in an Enemy of the State for example when Will
Smith’s character is being chased through the tunnel by two cars, there
are over 7 edits all of Will Smith running, mostly shaky hand held shots
and tracking shots but the rapid edits for just one form of action is quite
astounding.

15. Sound
Diegetic: This is the sound that which comes from the story world like a telephone
ringing etc. An example of this within the enemy of the states story world would
be like the gun shots and the dialog of the character.
Non-Diegetic: This would the sounds which the characters can’t hear like the film’s
soundtrack or a narrator. This would be like the action, thriller music when Will
Smith is being chased or
Contrapuntal: This is sound which contrasts the scene it’s being played to for example
in a horror film they usually play children's nursery rhymes which originally was
supposed to be a sweat, nice thing but is now used to scare or creep people out.
Parallel: This is when the sound runs with the image that is being portrayed instead of
being contrasted in Contrapuntal sound. An example of this would be like a gun
being fired and a loud bang from that gun eradiates from it for everyone to hear or
the sound of footsteps as someone is moving etc.

16. Iconography
Thrillers are often set in challenging, urban neighborhoods which shows the
typical setting of the thriller. This is presented as almost the whole of
enemy of the state is set in a city (Washington). Psychological thrillers
often take place in a city which brings all of the drama closer to home. This
often gives a sense of reality for the audience.
Another iconography for the crime aspect would be the Italian mob and how
they are mostly in older films either the villain or side by side with the
antagonist.
Finally there is the iconography of confined spaces within the city. In a thriller
this also makes the audience feels as though they are too trapped. Being
in a confined space leads the protagonist to signs of panic to inform how
they are trapped and cannot escape.

17. Visual style/Visual layout
The visual style, I believe is one which represents someone watching you
from a distance. This is down to the fact that the visual styles and layouts
resemble one of a Camera/CCTV watching you. The way they do this is by
using lots of shots from the angles of CCTV cameras and spy satellites
looking down at the protagonist trying to track him down.

18. Colour Scheme
The colour scheme of this film is quite an oceanic, natural, metallic colour.
You can see this at the first look at the front cover.
The reason they might have used this scheme is due to the fact that they
were going for a dark effect as the film isn’t a very light one, therefore
showing comparisons between the story and the colours. This could be
used in filming to give the impression of the setting/mood of the scene
(mise en scene) . An example of this would be a horror as the colours and
setting have to be dark due to the fact they want to present the audience
with the sense of dark, gloomy, bleakness in the films scene.

19. Font/typography
The font from the first scene looks a lot like cryptography or code to demonstrate the technology
used within the film. The front cover of the film (bottom Right) looks very much like
computer typing font and also has fonts and time as some sort of CCTV lettering to denote
the surveillance within the film. As a new scene starts moving computer text denotes where
the scene takes place. With the way the font appears as computer graphics it also represents
the technology used and that the viewer is looking in on the surveillance recorded.
The font and colour of the films titles help set up the mood and genre also, for example linking to
horrors, a title in red relates to blood and the type of font like a blood dripping or rustic edge
is a clear demonstration of a classic horror title, as it has a spooky eerie feel to it, to help the
audience understand the film the genre it is. The actual font of the enemy of the state is
Metrolox Font and looks slightly futuristic or alien due to all the odd lines sticking from the
letters which in themselves are shaped oddly.

20. Typical narrative structure
A typical narrative structure would be some what like Tordorovs theory which
represents that everything starts normal and a state of calmness or that
the state of occurrences is stable. This quickly spires down as the next
plot structure but then something shakes it up and creates a dilemma for
the protagonist.
Then there’s the the resolution where they fix or try to fix the problem they
are in.
Finally there is the films ending which shows them accomplish the problem
and get over it and usually the after math of the vent which just occurred.

21. Typical character types
Will smith is a typical man who is pulled into a world of chaos in
the space of seconds and due to this his character is mostly
confused and befuddled about what events have just
unfolded. Will Smith also brings a comedic aspect to his
character which is in contrast to the seriousness of the
situation.
Gene Hickman's character is a more serious Character who plays
the cliché, grumpy old man. This contrasts the two of them as
Will Smith is a young, cheerful, sharply dressed man where as
Gene is an old, miserable character who isn’t dressed
well and wishes to remain anonymous.

22. Todorov
Todorov theory was that in most books/scriptures there was a simple theme
of the story line. This transcripts into films and goes as the following:
• Equilibrium: The normal state of affairs at the start of the story.
• Disequilibrium: Something happens to disrupts the normal state of affairs
(there can be several moments of disequilibrium)
• Attempts to repair problem
• New equilibrium: Balance is restored, but the characters will have changed
because of the journey they’re been on.

23. Todorov’s theory in terms of this film
Equilibrium: Will Smith Character (Dean) has a normal life, family and
Is perfectly normal/average himself.
Disequilibrium: The tape of the corrupt politic killing an imposer from
the first scene is put the protagonist’s shopping bag and he is later
tacked down due to this tiny event.
Attempts to repair problem: By getting the antagonist killed by the
Italian mafia and vice versa both Gene Hackman and will smith have
killed two birds with one stone.
New equilibrium: Will Smith is reunited with his family and the threat
of him being chased and killed is over.

24. Character roles (Vladimir Propp’s
theory)
• The Hero is on a quest
• The villain works in opposition to the hero
• The princess is what/who the quest is for
• The dispatcher sends the hero a quest
• The donor gives the hero something to help on
the quest
• The helper assists the hero on the quest
• The farther rewards the hero
• The false hero appears to be helping the hero but
is unmasked as a fraud

25. How does Vladimir Propp’s compare
to enemy of the state
• The Hero in this case would be will Smith and his character Dean
• The villain the corrupt Head of the NSA
• The princess is Will Smiths (Dean) wife
• The dispatcher would probably be the character that puts the
secret footage in Will Smiths shopping bag
• The donor would probably be Gene Hackman’s character (Brill) as
well due to the fact he gives Will Smith advice to prevent the NSA
from tracking him
• The helper Gene Hackmans character (Brill) who helps Will Smith to
end the corrupt head of the NSA
• The farther would just be the clearance of his name and that he’s
not a cheating, murdering, criminal
• The false hero N/A

26. Classic Hollywood structure
This is how Hollywood films are structured and set out in most of
their films. As you can see in the two following pictures at the
bottom it shows how they split the film into three separate
parts; Act 1 sets up the scene for the start of the film. Act 2 or
the middle of the film is about the confrontation and Act tree
or the end is the Resolution and therefore the ending to the
film.

27. Binary opposites
Binary opposites are presented in this film with the use
of comedy. The way they did this was by using
characters with humor such as Will Smith and Jack
Black who can defuse the tension or scare that the
audience have for the character by using comedy.
The reason this is binary opposite is due to the fact
that the film is a crime thriller with hints of action so
therefore when they add humor it contrast the two
sides of the film.

28. Narrative themes
The narrative themes are themes within the
story/plot of a film. Thriller’s narratives have
often a complex structure as they do like the
audience guessing on what will happen next and
it has twist and turns. A lot of thrillers have a
restricted narratives, questions and or riddles will
be left unanswered until towards the end of the
film. Also in narrative they put in false clues to
make the audience think its gone one way or that
this certain ‘object’ which was spoken about was
important but really it isn’t.

29. Mode of address
Mode of address is how media shouts at the audience. An
example of this would be how a piece of media addresses
either its character or its audience. An example of this would
be addressing them by using “first person”, I, me etc and also
“third person” which would be him, them and so on.

30. Audience
The audience of this film would mainly be old as firstly the film was released a
few years back (1998) and secondly the genre and plot of the film is
although not complicated still presents mature themes and wouldn’t be
really appropriate for young children. The reason for this is because the
plot can be quite dark at times and can even be seen to have resemblance
to “big brother” from a book called 1984 by George Orwell about
complete state control and the government owning everyone. Personally I
would recommend the following age groups of 16-30 to watch this film.

31. Conclusion
I chose this Film due to the fact it collaborates with our idea of a fugitive on the run just like this film
portrays a man running from the state and also a shroud of mystery on what is really going on and
why Will Smith being chased/hunted down.
The film is also a slightly dark thriller with action scenes which is what we wanted in our final piece.
Although this isn’t as such a physiological thriller it still shows aspects of it. This is demonstrated by
the paranoia of the main character as the plot unfolds.
Personally I really like this film as it incorporates lots of interesting ideas like corruption within the state
and the misuse and abuse power as demonstrated by their influence to make someone’s life
hell/change it around in the space of 24 hours even if they’re innocent.
As the main antagonist says “lets get into his life” it just goes to show.
Hopefully our group can incorporate some of the themes, ideas and overall feeling of psychological
paranoia in this film in our piece as we want to do a physiological thriller with action in it.

32. Thank you For watching
By Finn Kelly