DISCLOSURE DAY

Disclosure Day is a powerhouse cinematic experience that only Steven Spielberg could give to the world, full of brilliant ideas, excellent performances, incredible technical aspects, and pure wonder that not only leaves audiences with important questions about the truth and our right to it, but with elevated sense of hope and understanding of our place in this world that confirms the power of filmmaking.

For decades, filmmakers and storytellers have been fascinated with a question that has long troubled humanity: what if we aren’t alone in this universe? Aliens have been no strangers to the science fiction genre, with many films telling about alien visitors coming to Earth. Some have been peaceful, some set on world domination and extermination of the human race, but regardless of their intent, these stories have captivated viewers for decades. Legendary director Steven Spielberg is no stranger to these stories, having directed two of the masterpieces of the alien science fiction subgenre with Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, and it is the existence of aliens that draws him back to blockbuster filmmaking since 2019’s Ready Player One with Disclosure Day. However, this time Spielberg is less concerned with the question of whether we are alone in this universe or not, but whether we as a human race deserve to know this, delivering a far more profound and thought provoking blockbuster experience that is never short of that Spielbergian movie magic. Featuring breathtaking cinematography from Janusz Kamiński that captures the mystery and wonder of Spielberg’s original story, a soaring musical score that only the magnificent John Williams could compose, and a sensational lead performance from Emily Blunt, audiences are not ready to discover the truth at the centre of Disclosure Day, but for those who are willing to take the leap of faith, its pure cinematic magic that reminds us why Spielberg is one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.

Should we know if we are alone in the universe? And is humanity as a species ready to know this information? Would we crumble as a society or rise to the occasion? That is the heart of Spielberg’s original story in Disclosure Day, with his long time collaborator David Koepp penning the screenplay. For decades there have been conspiracy theories about government cover ups of extra terrestrial life, and it is this curiosity that drives Spielberg’s latest film. Early on in Disclosure Day, the audience is told that aliens exist and that there is a vast conspiracy orchestrated by government and private companies to not only keep this hidden from the human race, but also mining their technology for their own personal gain. Is humanity able to handle this truth? Will the religious beliefs that have helped shape our way of life crumble knowing that there is a higher power other than the chosen god? Or will our own self driven interest get the better of us over our natural compassionate instincts? These are all the ideas that Spielberg weaves into this science fiction thriller and questions that he poses to the audience, and with Koepp’s great writing and Sarah Broshar’s editing, what unfolds is an engaging and high concept thriller.

There are some great set pieces sprinkled throughout, delivering that big spectacle filmmaking that Spielberg does so well that delivers the thrills and excitement in spades, but it never overtakes the thematic exploration that drives the film. Full of mystery and wonder, working in great conversation with Spielberg’s other masterful science fiction films such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Minority Report, as well as more surprising connections to The Fabelmans in its exploration of childhood memories or The Post with its use of the media reporting truth to the public, this is far more than just a summer blockbuster. It’s a mixing of genres to tell an important story about truth, the right to it, and whether we deserve to know it, all carefully orchestrated by Spielberg and Koepp’s writing to create a more meaningful trip to the cinema. By the time the story culminates in that unbelievably astonishing and impactful final act that displays Spielberg once again at the height of his powers, audiences will be left speechless by what they just experienced. What unfolds is of timely importance regarding the disclosure of the truth and the role of media, heightened by the beauty in which Spielberg deals with the awe, fear and world altering ramifications of such disclosure in the most magical way imaginable.

To work with Spielberg is a great honour for any actor, having himself directed three of his actors to Academy Award wins and created films that have become a lasting part of any actors’ legacy, and the cast he has assembled for Disclosure Day led by the unparalled Blunt is no exception to that track record. From start to finish Blunt is outstanding, in one moment dealing with her character’s omniscient powers and becoming an emotional chameleon, to the next shifting mid-scene to Margaret’s confusion and terror of the powers she has all of a sudden discovered. It's an emotionally vulnerable performance that Blunt shines in and grounds this larger than our world narrative. At the same time, the voice work Blunt performs to speak the alien language is simultaneously amazing and chilling as the unnatural and eerie sounds she produces kick-starts the film’s plot, giving a true authenticity to her performance. It’s nothing short of a tour de force performance, making Blunt not only the standout performance of the film, but arguably the finest performance of her career to date.

Josh O’Connor continues to prove himself as a formidable rising star as Daniel, matching Blunt wonderfully in their scenes together at the same time as developing Daniel’s complex journey to disclosing the truth and his past. Colman Domingo brings an undeniable warmth to the film as Hugo, acting as a proponent for full disclosure and pleading to humanity’s ability for compassion and acceptance, acting as a great counter to Colin Firth’s Noah Scanlon who represents the other side of that argument. Firth makes for a menacing villain at times, even if it feels slightly mustache twirling at times calling back to the portrayal of the villains of the Indiana Jones series, but it works excellently within the confines of Koepp’s script and Spielberg’s vision. Eve Hewson is excellent as Jane, delivering a phenomenal performance of conflicted emotions and unnatural movements opposite Firth in her character’s standout sequence of the film proving that she is one actress to keep watching as her future is bright. Though it is Courtney Grace who helps deliver home Spielberg’s mesmerizing third act with a vulnerability that captures humanity’s fear, compassion and enlightenment in that magnificent final sequence.

As with any Spielberg production, audiences can expect a masterful visual and audio experience. Kamiński’s cinematography not only harnesses the excitement of the set pieces with lots of long shots to let the action unfold in real time, using lots of light, shadows and lens flares throughout, but the striking imagery he captures in the story’s more wondrous moments evoke an authentic magic and mystery that is glorious vision captured on 35mm film stock.

Williams, the great maestro himself at the age of 96 nonetheless, delivers an exceptional musical score that builds the emotion behind the wonder, using a grand orchestral to ensnare the audiences’ imagination in his best original musical score in years. With the science fiction story elements, there is a good amount of visual effects work, for the most part is top notch and seamlessly blends CGI and practical effects, while the sound design excellently balances the dialogue, Williams’ musical score and the sound effects in a powerful Dolby Atmos mix. It all works together to create an unforgettable cinematic adventure that demands to be seen on the biggest screen imaginable.

While it may not be the film that audiences are expecting from the marketing, which teases a more blockbuster friendly theatrical outing despite some excellent blockbuster moments, what Steven Spielberg creates for audiences in Disclosure Day is far more profound and rewarding. With that storytelling magic that captures a human quality like no other director, Steven Spielberg’s return to the alien genre is nothing short of a miraculous theatrical event that not only subverts expectations in the best way imaginable to deliver a film like no other, but confirms his status as one of cinema’s greatest storytellers that will never be forgotten. Delivering an all encompassing cinematic experience that both excites, mystifies and has the audience levitating out of their seats in astonishment during that masterful final act, Steven Spielberg delivers a blockbuster like no other in Disclosure Day as he grapples with humanity’s right to and ability to handle the truth through honest emotion and when paired with career best performance from Emily Blunt, amazing cinematography from Janusz Kamiński and another masterful musical score from John Williams, results in one of the year’s best films and another spellbinding science fiction masterpiece from one of cinema’s most legendary directors!