[NoHo Arts District, CA] – In this week’s movie and TV review blog, Mike Peros reviews Disclosure Day, Steven Spielberg’s latest science fiction adventure filled with alien secrets and high-stakes suspense
Aliens, aliens. More often than not (in movies, anyway), they’re treated with suspicion and skepticism, as singularly unwelcome, and ultimately as a threat to our very existence (War of the Worlds, Independence Day). Sometimes they seem friendly and are greeted with open arms, before betraying (as in vaporizing) the hand that feeds them. (Mars Attacks comes to mind.) Occasionally they’re well-meaning and have to overcome all kinds of earthly obstacles before they can impart some valuable words of wisdom on how humans should conduct themselves (as in Michael Rennie’s Klaatu in 1951’s The Day the Earth Stood Still – I choose not to acknowledge the Keanu Reeves remake).
Disclosure Day
And lately, aliens and government news about aliens—in addition to some recent global conflicts—have been on the minds of many, so that director Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day (story by Spielberg, screenplay by David Koepp) is a pretty timely film indeed. And it is almost two and a half hours of pure entertainment (145 minutes to be exact). Josh O’Connor’s cybersecurity specialist (working for Wardex, a shadowy arm of the government) makes off with some top-secret extraterrestrial technology and loads of Wardex files of alien/human interaction—some not favorable to the government, by the way. Accompanying him is Eve Hewson as his girlfriend and a former novitiate. Hunting them is Colin Firth’s determined Wardex CEO, a man of unwavering belief—in the inability of humans to handle these alien revelations. At the same time, Emily Blunt’s meteorologist suddenly finds herself capable of speaking all kinds of languages, seeing deeply into other people’s souls, and experiences an on-air breakdown while uttering a seemingly indecipherable language—which puts her on the radar of everyone, especially Firth and Colman Domingo’s Hugo. Domingo plays a former Wardex employee gone rogue, with seemingly limitless resources, and would like nothing more than for he, O’Connor and Blunt to get together. He’s confident they’ll find each other—if only that damned Firth didn’t have the same resources dedicated to stopping them.
And so the chase is on, and it’s a pretty darned good one, with some fine action set-pieces (accompanied by a customarily fine John Williams score), notably a thrilling car chase, and a sequence involving a fast-moving train with a car containing O’Connor and Blunt affixed to said train—and who are trying to hop the train before further disaster ensues. There are all kind of pleasures to be had here. One can start with the performances, especially Blunt’s transitions, Eve Hewson’s conflicted girlfriend (partly due to beliefs, partly because of some unwelcome technology), and the shadings that Firth brings to his villain. (On a side note: my friend, the talented comedian and actor Bob Greenberg, makes a short but important appearance in the film, playing a “famous comedian.” It is a testament to his skill that those in the know will be able to recognize said comedian right away.). Spielberg moves the proceedings effectively and swiftly, while the script provides a good blend of action and thoughtful dialogues, pertaining to conspiracies, faith, beliefs, and the resilience of the human spirit (or lack of, therein).
Without spoiling much (I hope), the ending left a little to be desired. The imminent threat of world war (in the film) and the culmination of the efforts of Blunt/O’Connor/Domingo to do the right and humane thing does have some moving moments. However, the resolution is a bit of a letdown—it’s something we’ve seen and heard before, and some things are presented a bit too literally. Hopefully, you’ll see and judge for yourself at a cinema near you—because most of the time, Disclosure Day provides a very entertaining day at the movies.