FILM REVIEW: DISCLOSURE DAY (12A) ESP RATING: 3.5/5
- Gavin Miller
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Steven Spielberg returns after a four-year directing hiatus with an intriguing and thought-provoking slice of cinematic entertainment.
This sci-fi thriller definitely comes into the ‘solid’ category of the legendary helmer’s movie work – but doesn’t quite compete in the upper echelons of his iconic back catalogue.
In real terms it’s – in my humble opinion – about on a par with Close Encounters of the Third Kind. If that yardstick is any help of course, depends how much you liked that highly-regarded Spielberg film back in the day.
Basically it consists of two excellent bookends – the premise unravelling at the start and drama at the end – with a solid hour and a half chase plotline in the middle, that while competent, does drag a little as we strive to reach the pay-off.
The main over-riding message in the story is ‘if you found that we weren’t alone in the universe, and someone showed it to you and proved it to you – would that frighten you?’
And does the world need to know – and most importantly – are we ready to know?
As the world stands poised on the brink of World War III – which is a background sub-plot that doesn’t take centre stage – cybersecurity specialist Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor from Challengers and TV series The Crown) is on the run with his girlfriend Jane (Eve Hewson), looking to turn ‘whistleblower’ after he steals a sensitive piece of extraterrestrial technology and related data files.
He believes the world should know about the contents of said information – which details human/alien contact events dating back to the 1947 Roswell incident.
But alas, a secret arm of the US Government (known as Wardex) – led by Colin Firth’s ruthless head-honcho Noah Scanlon – is tasked with making sure the facts don’t see the light of day – and brand Daniel a foreign spy as he’s tracked across multiple locations as they attempt to retrieve the data.
At the same time Emily Blunt’s Kansas City-based meteorologist Margaret Fairchild begins speaking in an unknown alien language live on air – after coming into contact with a cardinal bird which imbues her with psychic abilities. Out of the blue, it gives her the ability to intuitively understand the thoughts and emotions of other people, and unconsciously communicate in languages she has never learned.
She realises Daniel’s in danger, and via several ‘close call’ action set pieces, must find him, and meet up with a team of Wardex employees – including Colman Domingo’s Hugo Wakefield – who have fled work to turn whistleblowers, to get the truth out.
And the best way to get the truth out is finding a TV station, contact their national and worldwide affiliates – and get it broadcast across the globe.
Just getting there can feel a touch drawn out, if always remaining fascinating due to the underlying curiosity regarding the film’s potential conclusion.
Which leaves this as a captivatingly competent alien-orientated sci-fier – with actually very little alien – that is always watchable due to Spielberg’s evergreen direction.
ESP Rating: 3.5/5
Gavin Miller
Odeon Luxe Peterborough & Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough, Out Now
Cast: Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo, Wyatt Russell, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Jeremy Shamos & Elizabeth Marvel
Running Time: 2 Hrs 25 Mins
Director: Steven Spielberg
Film Review Venue: Odeon Luxe Imax Peterborough
For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Odeon Luxe & Showcase Cinema De Lux Cinemas go to www.odeon.co.uk and www.showcasecinemas.co.uk
Comments