the relevance of this film be strikingly frightening today . the unsuspecting John Q Public -lrb- Will Smith -rrb- be on the run , even strip down to he boxer to symbolize the insecurity of the average amercian by the ever-intrusive government swear to uphold we ineffective Constitutional Rights ; highlight modern technology go rampant under the guise of protect we supposedly inherent natural rights . the right to privacy be trample on by NSA agent -lrb- portray as young prying clown -rrb- under the command of a nefarious reptile play to a t by Jon Voight . the player in the system of illusory rights hound John Q Public since he unknowingly carry on he evidence of a congressman 's death and it be at this point where thing slowly unfold for the naive citizen as he be relentlessly chase by big Brother via satellite , ATM and tunnel camera , cell phone signal tracking , bug , etc. hit home the film 's point : privacy be a thing of the past . it even point out that a natural serene pond view of goose be not a safe place for some privacy . the film gain steam midway as a paranoidal ex-nsa agent , Brill -lrb- Hackman -rrb- literally knock some sense into John Q and show he the painful truth ; the truth that Joe Blow easily dismiss during a scene earlier into the movie . release almost 3 year prior to 9\/11 , `` enemy of the state '' bombard the sens with quick editing , hyper-action , and loud jolt of sound as if to say , `` wake up ! '' Orwell have be roll in he grave for some time now . one reviewer point out Brill 's birthday of 9\/11 in a quick flash scene . if only this be a coincidence and not a confirm nod to those who be privy numerologist , but consider the studio which release this film it should be of no surprise . so sit back , crack open a can of soda and pop open a bag of popcorn and pay witness to one man 's life quickly turn upside down by a power hungry , guilt-ridden government seek safety under its ever-intrusive eye .