With good reason, Steven Spielberg is the most beloved movie director of his generation. Among his many hits and masterpieces are the films “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial,” both of which concern alien life coming to Earth. So his return to that subject in “Disclosure Day” is an exciting prospect, with anticipation heightened because his most recent films (“West Side Story,” “The Fabelmans”) were outside his work in more populist genres. The new movie is a return to form.
“Disclosure Day” is based on the premise that aliens have visited our planet, and that the government has hidden evidence about these “encounters” (to borrow a word) from the populace. Two people – Daniel, a data specialist (Josh O’Connor), and Margaret, a TV meteorologist (Emily Blunt) – race to release files of provocative information about these events before the two of them can be stopped by unscrupulous government agents. Like Roy Neary in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” Daniel and Margaret are compelled to complete their mission without fully comprehending why. They also share a psychic kinship with one another.
Despite the serious tenor of the discussions about alien visitations in the movie, this is Spielberg in entertainer mode. There are heroes and hissable villains, magic (sort of) talismans, car chases, improbable escapes and rescues, and a good dose of humor. And, as always with a Spielberg film, a lot of pleasure comes from the director’s incomparable visual skill. The opening shot is unexpected, plunging you into the middle of the action. Any confusion only lasts a moment, and before you can catch your breath, you’re in the movie, off and running.
“Disclosure Day” is a chase film and engrossing fun, with the heroes constantly in jeopardy or narrowly escaping from traps. There’s a classic scene where the leads are being pursued by a malicious agent and endangered by being in the path of an oncoming train. Their peril compounds repeatedly until you laugh at the thrills and the director’s audacious desire to up the ante and tickle you.
At times, the mix of serious themes about faith with populist filmmaking muddles the picture. References to Catholicism – there are nuns, crucifixes and stigmata – are frequent. The implication seems to be that an alien in our presence is comparable to a savior from above coming to teach us about love and compassion. On first viewing, at least, these gestures toward Catholicism appear like window dressing and not fully digested. Sequences in a convent indicate that none of the moviemakers have had much experience with modern nuns.
Some commentators have suggested that the movie’s covert aim was to undermine present-day religious feelings and replace them with a belief in some other kind of otherworldly entity. My guess is that the intent was more political. Spielberg has cited the conspiracy thriller “Three Days of the Condor” as an inspiration for this movie. Indeed, the government agents in “Disclosure Day” are murderous and heedless, and the story takes place in a world of disorder and impending conflict. In contrast, we are told what distinguishes the aliens – what makes them advanced – is their extreme empathy. (Becoming a proxy for this characteristic, Blunt has some amusing opportunities to demonstrate this virtue.) Empathy is a quality that’s in short supply these days, by our government officials more than anyone, and promoting it could be considered subversive. In any event, the sentiment is definitely Spielbergian.
Besides the underdeveloped theology, my chief quibble with the movie would be a few listless scenes of exposition. And I wish Spielberg would have a heart-to-heart talk with his favorite cinematographer Janusz Kaminski about the overuse of lens flares. On the other hand, some very lauded modern movie composers might learn from John Williams that they could be effective without blasting a theater’s sound system.
Blunt is terrific; her role is comparable to that of Michelle Yeoh in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” in that it demands skills ranging from comedy to action to drama. The likeable Blunt delivers on all fronts. In a more traditional action role, her co-star O’Connor is fine but has fewer opportunities to stand out. The stellar supporting cast includes Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, Wyatt Russell and Eve Hewson. In a bit part as a newscaster in the finale, Courtney Grace impresses.
I have a lifetime of goodwill toward Spielberg, but that hasn’t prevented me from disliking some of his work in the past. For instance, “The B.F.G” was a misfire. Some messiness in “Disclosure Day” may prevent it from being considered among Spielberg’s finest movies. Nonetheless, he often flies high here.
“Disclosure Day” PG-13 (intense action scenes and a close encounter with profanity). Running time: 145 minutes. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Written by David Koepp. Starring Josh O’Connor, Emily Blunt, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo, Colin Firth, Wyatt Russell, Elizabeth Marvel. Genres: science fiction, thriller.
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