Plot: What’s it about?
Steven Spielberg has given us some pretty memorable films in his half-century as a director. He’s made a great number of us (myself included) to have no desire to go into the water with Jaws. He’s made us cry (multiple times) with films like E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial and Schindler’s List and has created one of the greatest franchises with his Jurassic Park films. To say he’s had an impact on our pop culture is, of course, an understatement. In the realm of “event movies”, I’d have to say that he had a hand in creating those as well. And his latest effort, Disclosure Day, is another in a series of these event films and also serves as a spiritual sequel to his 1977 classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
We waste no time getting into the action and pick up the pieces of the plot along the way. We meet Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor), who’s stoelen decades’ worth of documentation to prove that aliens exist and that the government has covered it up. He relays this information to his girlfriend, Jane (Eve Hewson) of his plan to release it to the public. But this doesn’t sit well with the government, namely Noah (Colin Firth) – who’s determined to prevent this from happening. A meteorologist in Kansas City, Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt) starts experiencing strange things, like the ability to speak languages she doesn’t know. She also feels drawn to Daniel, despite not knowing who he is. There’s a lot of dot connecting going on here and we learn that Noah can use alien technology to communicate telepathically with other people. Margaret can read minds, Daniel understands and alien language and then we’ve got Hugo (Colman Domingo) who seems to be smack in the middle of Daniel and Margaret. Confused? Don’t be. It all makes sense in the grand scheme.
This an intelligent film and not the usual popcorn-flick fodder that we’ve become so used to. I don’t know if it’s quite on the Christopher Nolan level with films like Inception and Interstellar, but it’s nice to see a Summer blockbuster that makes you use your mind. But as much as we’re using our heads, there’s the classic Spielberg corniness that he’s become so accustomed to. Like Frank Capra before him, Spielberg is a great storyteller but tends to over sentimentalize. We’ll give him a pass, though. Like superhero films, the “alien” genre has no shortage of films if this sort of thing excites you (and judging by the sheer amount of these out there – they do). Is this Spielberg’s best? Not by a longshot. But it’s entertaining, has a great cast and excels on all the technical levels. It’s a good way to spend a few hours.
Video: How’s it look?
I think our heads would explode if we were to watch a big budget film from Universal directed by Steven Spielberg that didn’t look anything short of perfect on disc. That’s an oddly constructed sentence, but I trust my point is (or will be) made. The 2.39:1 HEVC 4K image delivers the scope image in all its 4K glory. All the boxes are checked here from incredible detail, a broad color palette and strong contrast. In other words – it’s gorgeous in every sense of the word. Granted, a large percentage of the viewing public might not notice the subtle nuances that us “disc reviewers” pick up on. Suffice it to say that this delivers on all levels.
Audio: How’s it sound?
As of this writing, Steven Spielberg and composer John Williams have collaborated on over 30 films together. Williams has given us such iconic themes from Jaws to Raiders of the Lost Ark to Jurassic Park. In other words, this is a winning combination. And with Disclosure Day, he’s at it again delivering a very memorable sound mix that’s sure to please. Putting aside the film’s score, we’ve got a very robust Dolby Atmos mix that isn’t afraid to utilize each and every channel in your system. Bold, thumbing LFE from the subs, varying surround mixes and a strong front stage set the scene for an immersive experience. And, well, isn’t that the point? Audiophiles will be head over heels with this one as it delivers on all levels (read that however you like).
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Encountering the Unknown: Inside Disclosure Day – Join Steven Spielberg, Emily Blunt, and the rest of the cast in this over 50-minute look at the filmmaking secrets and real-life inspirations behind the movie.
- Spielberg & Williams: A Legendary Collaboration – Steven Spielberg celebrates composer John Williams in a touching tribute commemorating their shared cinematic legacy.
The Bottom Line
Disclosure Day might not have been the box office juggernaut that the studio thought it would be, but it certainly wasn’t a flop. I’m scratching my head to think of the last time that Spielberg had a flop. But this is Spielberg in his element, to be sure. Universal’s disc delivers reference-quality audio and video.
