‘Disclosure Day’ - A science-fiction thriller with awe and depth
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that Steven Spielberg is fascinated by the possibility of extraterrestrial life. He’s made several films that entertain audiences with alien excitement: Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, War of the Worlds, and now, Disclosure Day. Disclosure Day is a continuation of many of the same themes Spielberg has explored in his other science-fiction films. While the script can be a little awkward at times, the film has many awe-inspiring moments and asks challenging questions about humanity’s place in the universe, religion, and truth.
Disclosure Day follows two protagonists, Daniel Kellner (Josh O'Connor) and Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt). Daniel is a cybersecurity expert on the run after stealing from his powerful employer, Wardex. He tells his girlfriend that he stole something that can’t be owned: a truth that the world deserves to know. Margaret, on the other hand, is a weather reporter who gains the ability to read people's minds after a strange encounter with a bird. During a weather report, a spell comes over Margaret, and she speaks in clicks and guttural noises. Bizarrely, Daniel can understand the meaning of these strange noises as if they were English. Daniel and Margaret are led by one of Daniel's former coworkers who has also defected, Hugo Wakefield (Colman Domingo). Hugo brings the two together, as they will each play pivotal roles in disclosing this hidden truth to the world, but Wardex will fight them to prevent the truth from coming out.
It should be obvious that the plot of Disclosure Day is a little bizarre at times. Oftentimes, the novelty of some plot points lends the story greater unpredictability. Additionally, it makes up for the strangeness with some profoundly challenging themes. The central weight of the film revolves around humanity's place in the universe. If the stars aren't empty and Earth has been visited, the film treats this as a truth that ought to be shared with the world. The film goes so far as to question the reconciliation of religion with extraterrestrial life, providing a deep mix of the sacred with the profound in the midst of action.
Spielberg has an unparalleled ability to inspire awe and wonder through his films, and Disclosure Day is no exception. This movie somehow combines the mystic wonder of the unknown with an action-filled conspiracy thriller. Additionally, John Williams's score contributes tremendously to these feelings of wonder. Spielberg and Williams have worked on countless films together throughout their long careers, and this collaboration instills a sense of nostalgia for the air of magic that the two collectively breathe into their art.
Unfortunately, Disclosure Day is not without fault. While Blunt and O'Connor's performances are quite strong, it feels like there is a discrepancy between the quality of the writing and the rest of the film. With the weight of some of the revelations in the first half, much of the dialogue feels awkward or dissonant with the magnitude of events. However, the film makes up for it in the second half, as some moments are so immersive that the emotional impact of certain world-changing disclosures can be felt by the audience. Overall, Disclosure Day is a profound and thrilling observation of the importance of truth and the question of humanity’s role in the universe.
