For decades, Steven Spielberg has been shaping the science-fiction genre with unforgettable classics that mix spectacle, emotion and imagination. Audiences had recently enjoyed a string of creative sci-fi releases, and the expectations were high for his latest project, Disclosure Day. Despite the promise of its premise and cast of talent, the film unfortunately delivers on none of it.
At its heart, Disclosure Day is about an alleged alien conspiracy and a powerful group that wants to suppress the truth. The story concerns two people whose lives are brought together by circumstances beyond their comprehension.
Margaret, a TV weather presenter, has a strange incident on live TV when she sees a red bird. She begins speaking languages she has never learned, and becomes obsessed with finding out what is causing her strange condition. Her search for answers takes her, eventually, to Daniel, a former employee of the powerful company Wardex.
Daniel has evidence that could reveal secrets that could alter humanity’s understanding of the world. This puts him in the sights of Wardex and its determined leader, Noah Scanlon, who will stop at nothing to keep sensitive information from the public.
The premise is promising, but it’s too long before the film gives anything away. The incessant teasing of revelations is frustrating, rather than suspense-building. The film always promises big revelations, but seldom delivers satisfying answers, making much of it feel like a slow meander.
One of the biggest problems is the lack of interesting characters. The screenplay gives the talented cast little to work with. Most of the characters feel underdeveloped, making it hard to get invested emotionally in their journeys.
Daniel, the character who should provide the story’s emotional core, is surprisingly forgettable for much of the film. Supporting characters, on the other hand, are often more interesting, though their development is often rushed or abandoned altogether. Several character arcs end in a way that feels more convenient than earned.
The film also introduces a supernatural power that allows some people to influence or control the minds of others. While this idea could have added interesting depth to the story, the rules surrounding the power are always changing depending on what the plot needs. There are moments where characters effectively use these powers, only to forget about the same powers when they would solve major problems later in the narrative.
This inconsistency also applies to the villains. Noah Scanlon is a sufficiently interesting antagonist at the beginning, but his motives are less and less clear as the story advances. Many of his decisions in the final act feel unrelated to goals established earlier in the film.
The technical execution, too, seems surprisingly uneven. Some action scenes lack urgency and moments that are supposed to build tension are strangely flat. Some scenes have little music, which lessens the effect of the situations that should have been exciting or suspenseful.
The film also has visual choices that become distracting after a while. Repeated use of reflective imagery, excessive lens flares and awkward editing decisions often detract from the story rather than enhance it. Some action scenes are staged in a way that draws attention to the logical flaws of the film, making it hard to take key moments seriously.
One particularly striking example comes in an early chase sequence where Daniel escapes heavily armed pursuers in what seems to be a highly unlikely situation. Rather than being exciting, the scene raises questions about how the characters keep missing obvious events happening right in front of them.
Disclosure Day‘s most surprising aspect might be its uneven tone. For most of its running time the film plays out as a serious science fiction thriller. But the last act suddenly throws in moments of broad humour that seem totally out of kilter with everything that had gone before. Rather than diffuse the tension, these scenes undermine it, making some of the drama unintentionally funny.
The ending doesn’t do much to rescue the experience. The ending is underwhelming and rushed, after nearly two hours of build up to major revelations. The final choices of the film are more likely to leave audiences feeling disappointed rather than satisfied, instead of a memorable payoff.
In a year filled with creative and affecting emotionally science-fiction stories, Disclosure Day is memorable for all the wrong reasons. What should have been an interesting trip into alien conspiracies and hidden truths turns out to be a muddled, inconsistent and shockingly forgettable experience. While its ideas are ambitious, the film never attains the wonder, suspense or emotional depth that audiences have come to expect from the genre.## Decision
Disclosure Day has an interesting premise but falls flat with its weak character development, inconsistent storytelling, and unsatisfying conclusion. There are some ideas that may appeal to the veteran science fiction fan, but the film does not live up to its promise, and is not likely to be remembered long after its release.