In this episode of Film Curious, Ashley and Pete review and break down the latest Steven Spielberg sci-fi action thriller, Disclosure Day, starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo, and Colin Firth.

We kick off the episode with how this film fits in with Spielberg’s other alien movies. Then move onto a spoiler discussion of the movie’s special effects, the uneven balance of great scenes and average ones, odd choices that weren't working for us, and the film’s greatest strengths, as well as debate how people would react to a real life disclosure day and much more.

⚠️ We get into spoilers at 5:18! Available in theaters now 🎟️

⏱️Timestamps

00:00 Intro to the Episode & Film

00:45 Steven Spielberg’s Other Alien Films & How They Compare to Disclosure Day

02:29 Pete’s Overall Reaction to the Film | Non-Spoiler Review

05:18 Spoiler Discussion Begins⚠️

06:04 The Film’s CGI | Would It Have Been Better with More Practical Effects?

09:15 Some Odd Choices Made | What Was and Wasn’t Working

14:53 The Film’s Greatest Strength | How Would Humanity React Debate

26:09 The Parts of the Movie That Are Absolutely Brilliant

29:18 The Alien & UFO Stories the Movie Is Based On & Uses in Its Story

31:57 Accepting the Film’s Ups and Downs & Trying to Understand “The Device”

35:37 A Complete Miss That Wasn’t Working at the Start of the Film

42:42 The Action Sequences & the Lack of Music During Them | John Williams Age & Last Film

45:14 Would People Believe Disclosure Day & Needing a Second Watch of Films

51:01 Hearing Dialogue & Sound System and Streaming Compression Side Tangent

56:50 Wrap Up | Final Consensus and Thoughts & Upcoming New Releases

01:00:00 Outro - (Go Knicks!) Thanks for Listening & Don’t Forget to Subscribe! 🔔

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Resources & References:

On Film…with Kevin McCarthy | Steven Spielberg Podcast Interview Disclosure Day, ET, Close Encounters, Jaws, Raiders, Private Ryan

NY Times The Daily | Steven Spielberg on the Real Life Evidence That Inspired 'Disclosure Day'

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

War of the Worlds (2005)

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

Minority Report (2002)

The Dark Tower (2017)

The Fugitive (1993)

Stranger Than Heaven (2027) | Tupac Appearing in an Upcoming Video Game

Troll 2 (1990)

Sound of Metal (2019)

Sinners (2025)

Nope (2022)