Disclosure Day shifts the focus off the age-old question, “Are we alone in the universe?”, and instead asks, “How would the world react to the news that we aren’t?” Not only is this shift in perspective refreshing, but it also allows Spielberg to explore themes such as faith and humanity, a common thread in his recent work. The actual plot of the movie feels much more like his earlier work, though, a cat-and-mouse-style thriller that kicks off at the start and does not slow down until the end. There’s a very delicate balancing act being performed throughout the runtime, and this, more than anything, is going to make or break this movie for audiences.
On one side of this balancing act is an Indiana Jones 80s action adventure, mixed with the science fiction elements of Minority Report. Disclosure Day lets those nostalgic elements truly shine, while still grounding the film in today’s world. The pace is snappy and makes this two and a half hour runtime fly by. Spielberg practically invented the summer blockbuster, so it should be no surprise this movie features classic elements like a car chase, sci-fi artifacts, aliens, and an almost James Bond like caricature villain. The script gets a bit clumsy at times, which weirdly helps add to the classic-adventure vibe going on, but understandably, this may be an issue for some people.
On the other hand is a conversation on belief, of gods and extraterrestrials alike. The way these ideas are explored through characters and their dialogue was captivating. With such a vast and diverse catalogue of films, Spielberg loves to discuss humanity. Nothing is black and white when it comes to humans, especially if faith is involved, and the questions Disclosure Day asks are compelling. While the blockbuster elements are a blast, it would have been fascinating to see more of the modern Spielberg slow the pace to fully explore these elements. It was hard to tell if some of these ideas were intentionally left a little underbaked, or if keeping the mystery was part of the plan, but a rewatch should help answer that question.
The science fiction landscape has shifted dramatically since Spielberg redefined the genre with Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. In the 70s and 80s, science fiction stories were filled with wonder, adventure, and spectacle. Compared to modern day, where most of the genre’s acclaimed films, such as Arrival, Interstellar, Gravity, Ad Astra, and Dune, all approach science fiction through a more serious lens, focusing on themes like philosophy, politics, or religion. Disclosure Day finds itself somewhere in between these two.
Audience expectations are going to play a major role with Disclosure Day. Anyone walking in and expecting the depth of Arrival or the politics of Dune may leave wishing Spielberg had dug deeper into some of the film’s big ideas. While someone walking in expecting a new Indiana Jones may be surprised by how often the film pauses to wrestle with questions of faith and belief. There are interesting questions and conversations proposed throughout, but they do ultimately take a backseat to the adventure. At the end of the day, this is a Spielberg summer blockbuster, and for some people, that’s not going to work as well as a more serious approach.
While the tone may be divisive, there’s absolutely no doubt that this is some of Spielberg and Janusz Kamiński’s best work together. The way reflections and light are used throughout the film is nothing short of magical. More than once, it was hard not to chuckle in disbelief at just how beautiful a shot was. About an hour into this film, there’s a sequence where the camera is moving in a way only Spielberg can make it, and a subtle John Williams score finally swells to a crescendo, and everything just clicks. It’s one of those moments Spielberg is so incredible at that just makes you think “I love the movies”. It’s hard to imagine anyone but Williams scoring this film. It’s more subtle than his iconic works, but he still manages to ignite a feeling of wonder and adventure in a few notes when needed.
Spielberg, aliens, and John Williams. For a lot of people, those three words are enough to get them into a theater, and they’re probably going to have a great time. This film may not dig as deep into its ideas as some modern sci-fi fans would hope for, but this felt like a deliberate choice rather than a failed attempt. Disclosure Day is a film caught between the Spielberg of Indiana Jones and the Spielberg of The Fabelmans, and that balance will work really well for some viewers and less so for others. For me, as someone who grew on watching Indiana Jones and E.T. with my dad, I absolutely adored this. Regardless of where you land, Disclosure Day is proof that even after five decades, no one creates a sense of wonder quite like Spielberg.
★★★★☆
