by Josh Sewell
Following some deeply personal thematic diversions with West Side Story and The Fabelmans – both incredible despite bombing at the box office – Steven Spielberg is back in audiences’ blockbuster comfort zone with Disclosure Day, his latest sci-fi parable. You’re not going to believe this, but the most beloved director in cinema history has made another excellent movie.
Longtime readers will be familiar with my take on Spielberg: it seems ridiculous to call one of the all-time filmmakers underrated, but it’s true. If anyone else made a work of art like Bridge of Spies, Munich or Catch Me If You Can, it would immediately be a career-topping achievement. But because it’s the guy who made E.T. and Schindler’s List, those flicks are considered “just” great.
Something tells me Disclosure Day will end up falling into that category too. Spielberg, who turns 80 in December, has crafted another earnest story (along with longtime collaborator David Koepp) about the power of empathy, speaking to the volatile world we live in while also grasping for an optimistic view of humanity that many no longer believe is realistic.
The thriller feels like a spiritual sequel to 1977’s sci-fi classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind, tackling similar material from a more contemplative and mature perspective. That makes sense considering the 30-year-old guy who made that film, riding high off the mind-blowing success of Jaws, is now a doting grandfather looking back on a career that helped establish the modern entertainment industry.
Josh O’Connor plays Daniel Kellner, a whistleblower for a shadowy organization dedicated to making sure the public never finds out about humanity’s contact with aliens. When he and a colleague (Colman Domingo, great as always) decide to go public with their evidence, they’re hunted down by the organization’s leader, Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth, in full mustache-twirling villain mode).
Meanwhile, Kansas City meteorologist Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt) gains national attention when she inexplicably begins speaking in an alien language live on television. As the two strangers are drawn together by destiny – or is it something stronger? – they make plans to change the world.
You can’t really argue that Spielberg is “back” when his last two films were essentially masterpieces, but Disclosure Day is definitely his return to the summer movie season. The last time that happened was 2016’s The BFG, which wasn’t exactly a high point for him. (I liked it more than most critics, but still… not ideal.)
In that context, at least, the legendary director bounces back nicely with this tense, exciting mystery packed with harrowing action sequences (of course) and strong performances. Even if the characters are cyphers rather than actual people, the actors ensure viewers care about what happens to them. O’Connor continues his winning streak after appearing in four(!) movies last year, making Daniel a terrific everyman despite being a genius.
Blunt is also excellent in her second movie of the summer. She’s typically hit-or-miss with me, but her work here proves she just needs to be paired with the right director who understands her strengths and weaknesses as an actress.
Eve Hewson and Wyatt Russell are also solid in supporting roles, although I wish their characters had better defined personalities and more to do in the story. In fact, Russell basically disappears halfway through.
There are a few more elements I could nitpick (Blunt’s character is essentially a deus ex machina, Domingo probably filmed all his scenes on two sets over the course of a few days, etc.), but it’s clear from the start that Spielberg is asking viewers to set aside their cynicism. That’s what I think Firth’s character represents: the modern viewer’s tendency to overanalyze every little plot development and try to “beat” the movie they’re watching.
Spielberg is unquestionably a legend, but I’m curious where he fits in our current theatrical landscape. Disclosure Day is tracking for a modest opening weekend, but it’s in a summer where YouTube creators are being hailed as the next big wave of filmmakers and Christopher Nolan has an adaptation of The Odyssey starring half of Hollywood coming in a few weeks. We’re in a moment of transformation, but I hope it’s one where audiences recognize the master still has some wonders to show us.
Disclosure Day is rated PG-13 for action/violence, some bloody images and strong language. Opens in theaters on June 12.
Grade: A-
Longtime readers will be familiar with my take on Spielberg: it seems ridiculous to call one of the all-time filmmakers underrated, but it’s true. If anyone else made a work of art like Bridge of Spies, Munich or Catch Me If You Can, it would immediately be a career-topping achievement. But because it’s the guy who made E.T. and Schindler’s List, those flicks are considered “just” great.
Something tells me Disclosure Day will end up falling into that category too. Spielberg, who turns 80 in December, has crafted another earnest story (along with longtime collaborator David Koepp) about the power of empathy, speaking to the volatile world we live in while also grasping for an optimistic view of humanity that many no longer believe is realistic.
The thriller feels like a spiritual sequel to 1977’s sci-fi classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind, tackling similar material from a more contemplative and mature perspective. That makes sense considering the 30-year-old guy who made that film, riding high off the mind-blowing success of Jaws, is now a doting grandfather looking back on a career that helped establish the modern entertainment industry.
Josh O’Connor plays Daniel Kellner, a whistleblower for a shadowy organization dedicated to making sure the public never finds out about humanity’s contact with aliens. When he and a colleague (Colman Domingo, great as always) decide to go public with their evidence, they’re hunted down by the organization’s leader, Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth, in full mustache-twirling villain mode).
Meanwhile, Kansas City meteorologist Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt) gains national attention when she inexplicably begins speaking in an alien language live on television. As the two strangers are drawn together by destiny – or is it something stronger? – they make plans to change the world.
You can’t really argue that Spielberg is “back” when his last two films were essentially masterpieces, but Disclosure Day is definitely his return to the summer movie season. The last time that happened was 2016’s The BFG, which wasn’t exactly a high point for him. (I liked it more than most critics, but still… not ideal.)
In that context, at least, the legendary director bounces back nicely with this tense, exciting mystery packed with harrowing action sequences (of course) and strong performances. Even if the characters are cyphers rather than actual people, the actors ensure viewers care about what happens to them. O’Connor continues his winning streak after appearing in four(!) movies last year, making Daniel a terrific everyman despite being a genius.
Blunt is also excellent in her second movie of the summer. She’s typically hit-or-miss with me, but her work here proves she just needs to be paired with the right director who understands her strengths and weaknesses as an actress.
Eve Hewson and Wyatt Russell are also solid in supporting roles, although I wish their characters had better defined personalities and more to do in the story. In fact, Russell basically disappears halfway through.
There are a few more elements I could nitpick (Blunt’s character is essentially a deus ex machina, Domingo probably filmed all his scenes on two sets over the course of a few days, etc.), but it’s clear from the start that Spielberg is asking viewers to set aside their cynicism. That’s what I think Firth’s character represents: the modern viewer’s tendency to overanalyze every little plot development and try to “beat” the movie they’re watching.
Spielberg is unquestionably a legend, but I’m curious where he fits in our current theatrical landscape. Disclosure Day is tracking for a modest opening weekend, but it’s in a summer where YouTube creators are being hailed as the next big wave of filmmakers and Christopher Nolan has an adaptation of The Odyssey starring half of Hollywood coming in a few weeks. We’re in a moment of transformation, but I hope it’s one where audiences recognize the master still has some wonders to show us.
Disclosure Day is rated PG-13 for action/violence, some bloody images and strong language. Opens in theaters on June 12.
Grade: A-
Reach out to Josh Sewell at joshsewell81@gmail.com or on BlueSky @joshsewell.bsky.social
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