Quoting the Internet Movie Database, the synopsis of Disclosure Day is as follows, “If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you?”
Renowned director Steven Spielberg has always been vocal about his belief in extra-terrestrial life on earth. His previous forays in the genre, including ET and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, focused on these beings as a threat. This time around, we are asked to think of things differently, more humanely, and to be open to the possibilities.
The sci-fi genre is one that confuses me and it is therefore not one that I usually gravitate towards. I was worried that this film would be hard to follow because of its subject matter, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth. While it started off right in the thick of things, I felt like I was able to grasp what was happening rather quickly. The plot flowed at a reasonable pace; although it was slow in some moments, I felt like this was not only necessary, it also did not deter me from my enjoyment. If anything, it engulfed me in the mystery.
With a cast as stacked as this one, it’s no surprise that each of them delivered some fantastic performances. Emily Blunt was absolutely formidable as weather girl Margaret Fairchild. The obstacles her character goes through are filled with so many ups and downs and Blunt portrayed them all like the champ she is. This is undoubtedly her best work to date! Opposite Blunt was Josh O’Connor as the enigmatic Daniel Kellner. His slightly offbeat persona was a welcome balance to that of Margaret’s and I thought he carried the film nicely. Eve Hewson starred as Daniel’s girlfriend Jane Blankenship. There is one particular scene of her in a kitchen that was outstanding. Having only really seen her in Behind Her Eyes and Bad Sisters, it’s nice that she’s finally getting some mainstream recognition. Colin Firth is deviously bad as Noah Scanlon while Colman Domingo is trusty and charming as Hugo Wakefield.
The reason why I loved Disclosure Day so much is because of its focus on empathy, truth and human connection. The film could have very well gone the traditional blockbuster route and that would have been fine, but this adds an emotional level to the experience that I didn’t know I needed. While the idea that other beings live among us can be scary for some, that doesn’t mean that we should treat them as a threat. Instead, we need to get to know them and learn to communicate with them – they could teach us more than we would ever expect. I’m so glad that Spielberg was able to tell the story he has always wanted to tell and now it’s up to you to decide to listen.
Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Credits Rolling 