Disclosure Day
Disclosure Day
Stars: Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo and Wyatt Russell
Director: Steven Spielberg
Scriptwriter: David Koepp from a story by Steven Spielberg
Composer: John Williams
Cinematography: Janusz Kaminski
Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment
Rating: PG 13
Running Length: 145 Minutes
Steven Speilberg is back in action that goes back to the days of flying over the moon in a bicycle with something bundled in the basket. This time, it seems as though many government people know a large (and that is very large) secret concerning space aliens. How this is introduced to the general public is what makes the film somewhat interesting. Oh, yes, John Williams’ music is wonderful, Janusz Kaminski’s cinematography is spot on, but locating the plot in Kansas City? As I am writing this, in real life, the 2006 World Soccer Cup Games are going on in Kansas City. But on the movie screen, just how much can this town take when a weather forecaster (Emily Blunt) begins to speak in a strange language while on camera in a TV studio.
As the film goes, it is almost time for World War III. Someone who is a specialist in electronics, Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Conno) breaks into the Wardex Corporation (always a big corporation in these films) and takes what could be “alien technology.” Think Roswell, New Mexico here. Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth) finds this out and the chase is on with Kellner having his girlfriend, Jane (Eve Hewson) with him. In the meantime, in Kansas City, meteorologist Margaret Fairchild (apt last name) is going on line with her weather report when a cardinal comes to her house. (Remember this) Suddenly, Margaret has abilities she didn’t realize she had and when online, begins speaking in a “foreign tongue.” From here on in, there is a chase between Kellner, Scanlon, Fairchild and Jane. Secrets begin to unfold and you never know who is sitting next to you with special “powers” mainly mind control.
There is much action in this film and it makes you wonder why aliens chose this particular planet. Are they experimenting on humans or humans experimenting on aliens. In-between, are various animals that appear, including cardinals. In the meantime, there is that pending war in the background. The ending? Methinks, "Disclosure Day" is a prequel for another film.
John Williams music score is, as always, top notch here and emphasizes scenes with clarity. Janusz Kaminski’s cinematography is also, top notch, and with Steven Spielberg’s direction, there is a film. However, the title, for example, “Disclosure Day” with two D’s, (D-Day) could be a way of saying there really is a beginning of war here as with WWII. In one of television’s “Star Trek” series with Scott Bakula as the star, there is an episode where aliens are discovered to have observed the Enterprise enough to gain information as to which galaxy Earth is in and just where it is located. As the Captain says, “It will take them 200 years to send the information to their own galaxy, and we will have 200 years to prepare.” Ominous, isn’t it?
Copyright 2026 Marie Asner
