by Henry Pham
Steven Spielberg is among Hollywood’s most successful filmmakers and one of my main filmmaking influences, along with Walt Disney and the teams at Disney and Pixar studios. He has led a stellar career with blockbusters like Jaws, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Indiana Jones, and the first two Jurassic Park films. His latest film, The Fabelmans (2022), received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. This new Spielberg movie once again draws fans into the sci-fi world he made iconic.
Disclosure Day is an all-new original sci-fi story conceived by Spielberg and written by David Koepp, whose previous collaborations with Spielberg include Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Koepp also wrote the script for Jurassic World Rebirth and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, both of which were executive-produced by Spielberg.
The film features Oscar nominee Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer), Josh O’Connor (Challengers, Wake Up Dead Man), Oscar winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech), Eve Hewson (Flora and Son), and two-time Oscar nominee Colman Domingo (Sing Sing, Rustin). Disclosure Day centers on meteorologist Margaret Fairchild and cybersecurity expert Daniel Kellner, as they lead a movement to reveal the government’s cover-up of extraterrestrial secrets. As the conspiracy unravels, Margaret and Daniel must act quickly to inform the public about an extraordinary event that will change human history: the ultimate alien disclosure.
The film’s alien and science fiction themes offer both a compelling narrative and a sense of nostalgia. Spielberg’s direction delivers an engaging experience, featuring numerous references to his early sci-fi works and concluding with a clever cliffhanger. The cast delivers outstanding performances, particularly Blunt and O’Connor, who do not share scenes until the second act. Firth’s performance is powerful, and Domingo plays a pivotal role in the plot’s development. John Williams’ score and the film’s visuals are polished, while the cinematography and chase sequences are both intense and impressive. Notably, the film effectively translates alien language through Blunt’s comedic and demanding vocal work, rather than relying on artificial intelligence.
Steven Spielberg delivers a standout return to science fiction with Disclosure Day, paying tribute to his early sci-fi films. While he has released many strong, critically acclaimed movies recently, none matched the box-office impact of his 1980s–early 2000s hits. I thoroughly enjoyed this film as a devoted Spielberg fan, raised on his and Disney’s work. Despite its 145-minute runtime, Spielberg’s direction keeps it engaging. The cast shines, especially Blunt, who anchors the film and never disappoints. I plan to watch it repeatedly. If you want a great summer Spielberg movie, this is a must-watch. I look forward to more from Spielberg as a director.
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