Disclosure Day review: Big on action, light on ideas

Summer’s here. A Disclosure Day review confirms the blockbuster season has officially begun. Director Steven Spielberg, a master of the genre, makes a highly anticipated return to his signature “aliens are among us” sci-fi territory with this theatrical release. It moves fast. Emily Blunt delivers a brilliant performance that ensures entertainment throughout. But the film offers little that feels truly fresh or original in alien cinema, and it's a familiar ride.

Global Tensions and Stolen Secrets

The first act works as a tight political thriller. It recalls Cold War-era paranoia movies like 1974's The Parallax View, with global tensions pushing the world toward the brink of World War III. That's the setup. But Daniel, a cybersecurity specialist played by Josh O’Connor, has secretly obtained a piece of alien technology and highly classified documents from Wardex Corporation, a shadowy arm of the US government that answers to Noah Scanlon, a man Colin Firth plays with cool intensity.

Scanlon corners Daniel fast. He seizes Jane, Daniel's girlfriend, who's portrayed by Eve Hewson, but at the intended exchange, Daniel cunningly double-crosses him and escapes with Jane. So the couple's now on the run. They're branded as traitors by Scanlon, and he's determined to stop the stolen information from ever reaching the public.

An Unexpected Awakening

Simultaneously, in Kansas City, television meteorologist Margaret, played by Emily Blunt, experiences a profound and baffling shift. A cardinal flies through the window during breakfast. It locks eyes with her before departing. Moments later, Margaret converses with her boyfriend Jackson (Wyatt Russell) entirely in Russian, a language she has never learned, and her newfound abilities quickly escalate to the point where she can discern the thoughts and feelings of others and converse fluently in their native tongues. In a widely circulated promotional scene, Margaret begins her live weather report but suddenly lapses into an unknown alien language on air. That moment instantly goes viral. It draws the attention of both Scanlon and his Wardex colleague, Hugo Wakefield, portrayed by Colman Domingo.

A Web of Intrigue Unravels

Hugo Wakefield orchestrates Daniel's theft of the top-secret materials. His ultimate aim? Disclosure. He wants to reveal decades of human-alien encounters that have been suppressed for 80 years, and so he'll expose their contents to the world. Scanlon stays resolute,he's determined to keep the truth concealed. But the film becomes a high-stakes race against time, with Daniel and Margaret struggling to evade Scanlon's operatives while they strive to find each other.

• Daniel (Josh O’Connor) steals classified alien technology and goes on the run.
• Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth), head of Wardex, hunts Daniel to suppress the truth.
• Jane (Eve Hewson), Daniel’s girlfriend, is caught in the conflict.
• Margaret (Emily Blunt), a meteorologist, suddenly speaks an alien language on broadcast.
• Hugo Wakefield (Colman Domingo) secretly assists Daniel to expose the alien secrets.

A Shift Towards the Mystical

Without revealing too much of the conclusion, the film’s final thirty minutes mark a distinct change in atmosphere, and though the final trailer hinted strongly at key elements, it largely succeeds under Spielberg’s seasoned direction. It's a pronounced shift towards the mystical as the various plot lines converge. Some criticism has targeted the CGI, especially for animal depictions, but the choice to render them as otherworldly fits. They look like they've stepped from a fairy tale into a grittier reality. That aligns with their eventual significance.

The director has assembled an exceptional ensemble cast. But it's Emily Blunt who truly anchors *Disclosure Day*. Her performance has drawn critical acclaim, and the accolades are well-deserved. Blunt, an accomplished and versatile actress, brings her deep experience to the portrayal of Margaret, meticulously depicting the character’s journey as she uncovers the full extent of her extraordinary abilities and unlocks long-suppressed childhood memories. She even utilized her vocal training to produce the alien language's guttural clicks and pops in a single four-minute take, reportedly refusing to allow filmmakers to rely on AI-based post-processing.

Familiar Territory, Expert Craft

Spielberg's masterful pacing prevents the film from ever feeling drawn out. But it clocks in at nearly two and a half hours. For the most part, the narrative logic holds, and the movie is at its strongest when operating in full-throttle thriller mode, even though the underlying themes and concepts explored are not particularly profound. The climactic revelation ultimately feels underwhelming. So there's a sense of having witnessed these ideas countless times before, even from Spielberg himself.

It's unclear why Spielberg made another alien film. He already gave us two of the most seminal works in the genre: Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. Spielberg has publicly credited a 2017 feature in the New York Times concerning the Pentagon’s UFO program with reigniting his interest, and he has declared himself even more convinced of the existence of intelligent alien life within our vast universe. This perspective is understandable. Many scientists would concur with the possibility. But the film doesn't appear to offer a fresh perspective or anything truly new to say on the subject.

Spielberg has credited a 2017 New York Times feature on the Pentagon’s UFO program for re-igniting his interest and declared himself even more convinced that intelligent alien life exists somewhere in our vast universe.

The tone of Disclosure Day aligns more closely with Close Encounters, a commendable film in its own right. However, E.T. is nearly a perfect cinematic achievement, which explains its enduring appeal. How does one improve upon perfection? The simple truth is, it's not possible, and Disclosure Day does not manage to do so. Nonetheless, this Disclosure Day review concludes it is an eminently watchable and impeccably crafted film from one of cinema's greatest directors. For those seeking merely an entertaining ride and willing to overlook minor inconsistencies, Disclosure Day certainly fulfills its purpose. Alternatively, one could simply revisit E.T.

Now Playing in Theaters

Disclosure Day delivers high-octane action and strong performances, especially from Emily Blunt, so it's a compelling watch. But it doesn't break new ground thematically. That's okay. The film offers a solid cinematic experience that audiences can enjoy right now in theaters, and it's currently playing for those who want a satisfying night out.