Movie Review: ‘Disclosure Day’

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Review by Adam Courtliff

Steven Spielberg has cemented himself as one of the greatest filmmakers ever to have lived and certainly one of the finest still working today. His incredibly impressive filmography is filled with some of the very best cinema has to offer. While his latest offering, Disclosure Day, may not come close to matching some of his greatest classics, it still proves to be another jewel in the already illustrious crown of Spielberg’s career.

Disclosure Day follows Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor), a cybersecurity expert who, through his job at Wardex, a private company in cahoots with government agencies, is privy to sensitive information that could plunge the world into anarchy concerning extraterrestrial life and its existence on Earth. Now on the run and being hunted by Wardex leader Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth), Daniel, alongside fellow prospective whistleblower Hugo (Colman Domingo), plans to bring the truth to the world in what they are dubbing Disclosure Day.

Those efforts are accelerated when Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt), a weather presenter for a local Kansas City television station, suddenly breaks out into an extraterrestrial language during a live broadcast. It sparks a race against time between Wardex and Daniel and Hugo as both sides scramble to reach Margaret first, with the future of humanity potentially hanging in the balance.

Undoubtedly, Disclosure Day is a slow burn. Brought to life through a screenplay by David Koepp from a story by Spielberg himself, it was never going to be a film that provided audiences with all the answers they might be seeking. After all, there is no definitive answer as to whether life exists beyond Earth. Instead, through its central mystery, the film encourages audiences to engage intellectually, posing some incredibly pertinent questions that require deep soul-searching about humanity and the morals that exist within us. The result is something consistently thought provoking throughout.

In fact, Disclosure Day never goes as far as telling you who the “good guys” and “bad guys” are, leaving it entirely open to interpretation. Of course, Noah and Wardex will likely be viewed by many as the villains of the piece. After all, they are a private company working alongside US government agencies to keep secrets from the public. However, Spielberg and Koepp do an excellent job of presenting arguments to the contrary that will likely spark a few friendly debates among families and friendship groups long after the credits roll.

When it comes to extraterrestrial life and its existence, it would have been incredibly easy either to pit science and religion against one another, as we have seen countless times before, or avoid the subject entirely and play it safe. Spielberg does neither. Instead, he tackles the subject head on while avoiding the well worn arguments audiences have heard many times before, opting instead to show how the two can coexist. It is a small touch, but one that fits the narrative of Disclosure Day brilliantly.

There is an overwhelming feeling throughout Disclosure Day that perhaps human beings are the greatest threat to our existence, not something descending from a flying saucer to take over the world. This is reflected in several of the background conflicts that persist throughout the runtime and really lands during the climax, which features some of the most striking imagery of the year so far. Rather surprisingly, it also reaches an emotional peak that will move even the most stoic viewers to tears.

With so many hard hitting themes running throughout, it was always going to be difficult to juggle all of those fascinating ideas and do them justice. For the most part, Disclosure Day succeeds, allowing them to simmer before bringing them to a satisfying boil. However, there are a few moments where it wavers ever so slightly and the runtime begins to become a factor. The pacing inevitably slows, which may lose some viewers expecting a more action-packed thriller.

Spielberg has once again teamed up with long-time collaborator and world renowned composer John Williams to create another score that immediately grabs the attention. Carefully curated to complement what is unfolding on screen, it remains soft and understated for large stretches as the mystery gradually unfolds, before building towards a delightful crescendo during the climax. As always, Williams demonstrates a masterful understanding of tone and atmosphere.

Much like the score, the cinematography from another of Spielberg’s trusted collaborators, Janusz Kamiński, is at times jaw dropping. From the outset, it is clear that Kamiński and Spielberg have attempted to make this feel reminiscent of one of their classics from the 1980s or 1990s, and for the most part they succeed. Light and lens flares play a significant role in the visual presentation, with many of the film’s compositions proving gorgeous to look at. Those more retro inspired images, coupled with agile modern camerawork during the action-heavy sequences, blend together to create one of the best looking films of the year so far.

Amid everything there is to love about Disclosure Day, Emily Blunt’s performance is perhaps the biggest standout and arguably the finest work of her career to date. She is asked to convey a vast range of emotions and complexities, all of which she captures with remarkable ease. Time and again, she delivers breathtaking moments that rank among the very best sequences in the entire film.

The supporting cast, while not quite as noteworthy, all contribute to the enjoyment of Disclosure Day in their own way. Josh O’Connor has rightfully been given the opportunity to lead a major blockbuster and, while his performance is more reserved, it remains extremely strong. Colin Firth also leans into the more villainous aspects of Noah perhaps a little too well at times. Surprisingly, though, it is Wyatt Russell who stands out most, providing some much needed comic relief among the heavier themes and delivering what will likely be some of the film’s most memorable moments.

While Disclosure Day may not be the action-packed alien thriller that the limited marketing I saw could be interpreted as promising, it is undoubtedly another strong outing from Spielberg. Visually stunning, brilliantly composed and anchored by one of the year’s finest performances from Emily Blunt, Disclosure Day has cemented itself as one of the most enjoyable sci-fi thrillers of recent memory and is an absolute must watch on the biggest screen possible.