MOVIE OF THE WEEK (6/12/26): DISCLOSURE DAY

CAST: Emily Blunt| Josh O'Connor | Colman Domingo | Colin Firth | Ewe Henson | Wyatt Russell

WRITER: David Koepp (screenplay) | Steven Spielberg (Story by)

DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg

TRAILER:

THE STORY: Dr. Daniel Kellner (Josh O'Connor) works at Wardex, a top secret Virginia-based government agency. Why is that important? Well, it seems that he and 11 of his co-workers including Noah (Colman Domingo) may have stolen information that, if revealed to the public, could literally change life as we – keyword, we – know it forever. On the run with his girlfriend Jane (Ewe Henson), Daniel is trying his best (with Hugo's help) to avoid capture by Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth), head of Wardex, who, by using technology not seen on this planet, has a very unique method of keeping tabs on Daniel and Jane.

Meanwhile, Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt) is an aspiring meteorologist who has dreams of moving somewhere bigger and better than her current job located in Kansas City. But when she goes on the air and inexplicably begins speaking in sounds, no one can understand her ...

... Except Daniel.

What ensures is a journey that may alter the course of human history - emphasis on human - as we know it.

THE REVIEW: Steven Spielberg, through such endeavors as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. the Extra Terrestrial and even Jurassic Park has long been enamored with the idea of how humankind would react and deal if it came to realize it was not the only life on this planet/in this universe. With DISCLOSURE DAY, that idea comes from and center, exploring the idea for some two-and-a-half hours, often weaving between action film and morality drama. 

While the film reaches its apex in epic fashion, there are times the journey there may feel a bit melodramatic for the sake of it. In other words, there are elements of DISCLOSURE DAY that feel like they have been disclosed before, sometimes in more engaging fashion (and with better special effects). What prevents the film from falling out of being engaging, however, are the committed performances of Blunt and O'Connor, both of which elevate a story that at times would otherwise have difficulty achieving the heights it aspires to reach. 

Fortunately, there are just enough bells and whistles to keep you intrigued as the film's apex arrives at the destination it has been driving towards the entire time: How would humanity act if it realized it could possibly not be alone? How would it affect faith? What would its impact be on the economy? Social order? Conflict? Etc.

In full disclosure, DISCLOSURE DAY could do a better job ... But it's better to not ponder its flaws and simple enjoy the ride while asking "what if?

RATING (OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN):