The provocative ‘Enemy of the State’ is the next film in the Spring 2003 classic film series at Syracuse University

The provocative ‘Enemy of the State’ is the next film in the Spring 2003 classic film series at Syracuse UniversityMarch 12, 2003Judy Holmesjlholmes@syr.edu

Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies will present the 1998 action-adventure thriller “Enemy of the State” March 19 at 7 p.m. in the Maxwell Auditorium. The presentation, part of the Spring 2003 series “Back to the Future: Classic Movies of the Information Age,” is free and open to the public. The movie will be followed by a discussion led by Associate Professor Jon Gant.

Directed by Tony Scott, “Enemy of State” tells the provocative story of labor lawyer Robert Dean, played by Will Smith, who is unknowingly in possession of evidence related to a serious politically motivated crime. Government agents, eager to hide their guilt, believe Dean is on to them and proceed to turn his life upside down, ruin his reputation and frame him for various incidents, thanks to the latest in high-tech government surveillance techniques. In an attempt to clear his name and reclaim his life, Dean teams up with the reclusive Brill, played by Gene Hackman, a former federal employee who has as much high-tech equipment and expertise as the government itself. The movie also features Jon Voight, Regina King and Lisa Bonet with cameo appearances by Jason Robards, Seth Green, Tom Sizemore and Philip Baker Hall.

The “Back to the Future: Classic Movies of the Information Age” series focuses on the challenges of the Information Age as depicted in movies. Each film is followed by a discussion that addresses the philosophical, ethical and psychological challenges of the Information Age, including issues of identity theft, virtual reality and artificial intelligence. For more information about the series call 443-6140.