Disclosure Day: Strong Buildup, Lackluster Ending

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

The king of summer movies, Steven Spielberg, is back with a new movie called Disclosure Day, returning to his earlier roots in science fiction. Starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, and Eve Hewson, Disclosure Day explores how a TV meteorologist and cybersecurity officer are trying to expose decades-long information on extraterrestrials. Spielberg is known for directing classic movies involving extraterrestrials, such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. For diehard Spielberg fans, it’s nice to see Spielberg going back to his more traditional routes after focusing on award season movies like West Side Story (2021) and The Fabelmans. Does Disclosure Day deliver?

Disclosure Day has the familiar beats of a Spielberg movie. It’s got a great score composed by John Williams. It’s got fun chase sequences that aren’t the cleanest, but are full of action. It’s got an antagonist in Colin Firth’s character, Noah Scanlon, who is trying to beat the protagonists in a race against time like other Spielberg antagonists and stop the information from being leaked out. It has a slow beginning that takes time building up the story and the protagonists. The visuals and special effects are top-notch as always. There is a combination of science fiction, mystery, and thriller. David Koepp, who wrote the screenplays for Spielberg’s Jurassic Park and The Lost World: Jurassic Park, wrote the screenplay for Disclosure Day.

Emily Blunt does a great job portraying Margaret Fairchild, a meteorologist who begins to show psychic abilities, knowing things she isn’t supposed to know, and shocking other characters. The effect she seems to have on other characters is well portrayed. She had an experience as a child, later revealed to be connected to the extraterrestrials. Josh O’Connor plays Dr. Daniel Kellner, who is a cybersecurity officer trying to bring to light early human-aliens contact. Colin Firth as Noah Scanlon, while portrayed well, seems to be the typical government villain who doesn’t want these secrets exposed.

Disclosure Day has an interesting premise that starts slow and a bit confusing at first. As the movie progresses, it has a strong buildup where a lot of interesting questions are brought up. Not every character is interesting, but luckily, Spielberg seems to move on from them at the right time. For example, Wyatt Russell plays Margaret’s boyfriend, and he feels like the weak link in the movie. At one point, he stops appearing, and the movie moves better. For those who are invested in the action and mystery aspect, they will enjoy this. What’s disappointing, though, is that while the science fiction aspect isn’t bad, it feels like the weakest genre in the movie, which is crazy since Steven Spielberg excels in that genre.

The third act of Disclosure Day starts off strong. It’s not perfect, though, as the way Noah Scanlon and his group are finally stopped feels forced and weak. I’m not expecting them to be defeated in some big action sequence like in an Indiana Jones movie, but it feels Spielberg and Koepp had no idea how to conclude their arc, and ended in the weakest way possible. Luckily, the movie gets right into the reveal, and it answers many questions. Then, when the movie seems to have much more to go and reveal something, it ends. After all the buildup, anticipation, thrills, reveals, and looking like more is going to happen, Disclosure Day ends. The credits roll, and that’s it. It’s probably one of the most disappointing, lackluster endings in a Spielberg movie. Does it ruin the whole movie? No, nor does it take away from how well-made it was, the great performances from Blunt, Firth, O’Connor, and most of the cast. Having said that, what started off with a great buildup ends in not feeling fully fulfilled. Maybe this was Spielberg’s intention, and as time progresses, it might make more sense, and he will reveal why he chose to end Disclosure Day in this way. Some fans don’t mind how the movie ended and liked the ending, while some were disappointed. This seems like another movie that audiences will be divided on. This will likely win over those who believe aliens exist and support the theories that the government is hiding information.

Overall, Disclosure Day feels like it is trying to return to classic science-fiction Steven Spielberg, but not quite there. It has a slow, but interesting first act that begins a buildup, a thrilling second act, and a half-good, half-lackluster third act. It’s far from Spielberg’s worst movie, though. The cinematography, visuals, performances, and scores are still top-notch, and it’s amazing that Spielberg can still make great-looking movies at almost 80 years old.

My final grade for Disclosure Day is a B-. This feels like a movie audiences will have different opinions on, and some will want to revisit to make sure they didn’t miss anything. If you’re a diehard Steven Spielberg fan, I do think it’s worth checking out.

What are your thoughts on Disclosure Day? Let us know in the comments below.