Spielberg is an expert director, but a terrible writer. He understands storytelling, but doesn't quite understand story, if that makes sense. I actually found similar issues with Close Encounters (I saw it for the first time a few months back), where the characters seemed totally inscrutable in terms of their behavior (and no, I'm not just talking about Dreyfus losing his mind) and a lot of what happens seems to happen just so we can get to the (admittedly quite stunning) ending Spielberg wanted to get us to.
I found the third act of Disclosure Day pretty gripping, in a vacuum, because it was so well crafted that I couldn't help but put myself in a mindset where I'm imagining what it might be like to actually be watching this for real on TV. But everything around it is so convoluted and convenient that it all falls apart the moment you think about it. It's a shame, because there's cool stuff here, but it just doesn't work.
I have some issues with the film. However, what does “out of touch” even mean, and by whose standard? That phrase can only be applied as a filter through one person’s life experiences. Just because you don’t perceive something doesn’t mean it isn’t real, and I’m not referring to aliens.
You need to understand that Steven Spielberg is operating from the reality where he became Steven Spielberg. From that view, what he is proposing is not far off. He believes in his dreams, because they've paid off before in unimaginable ways.
I agree however the perfomance of Emily Blunt and the long-standing collaboration with John Williams outweighed the rather derivative and bizarre love of alien exposition that Spielberg delights in!
Emily Blunt was undoubtedly amazing. She had the gravity and pathos to pull off the role. I will admit that John Williams' score didn't impress me as much as I expected after hearing some initial reviewers say it's his best work in years. I still contend that "Dial of Destiny" has some of his better late-stage music.
Spielberg is an expert director, but a terrible writer. He understands storytelling, but doesn't quite understand story, if that makes sense. I actually found similar issues with Close Encounters (I saw it for the first time a few months back), where the characters seemed totally inscrutable in terms of their behavior (and no, I'm not just talking about Dreyfus losing his mind) and a lot of what happens seems to happen just so we can get to the (admittedly quite stunning) ending Spielberg wanted to get us to.
I found the third act of Disclosure Day pretty gripping, in a vacuum, because it was so well crafted that I couldn't help but put myself in a mindset where I'm imagining what it might be like to actually be watching this for real on TV. But everything around it is so convoluted and convenient that it all falls apart the moment you think about it. It's a shame, because there's cool stuff here, but it just doesn't work.
I have some issues with the film. However, what does “out of touch” even mean, and by whose standard? That phrase can only be applied as a filter through one person’s life experiences. Just because you don’t perceive something doesn’t mean it isn’t real, and I’m not referring to aliens.
Very mixed thoughts on this movie on substack. Welcome! I subbed you as we write in similar lanes.
You need to understand that Steven Spielberg is operating from the reality where he became Steven Spielberg. From that view, what he is proposing is not far off. He believes in his dreams, because they've paid off before in unimaginable ways.
I agree however the perfomance of Emily Blunt and the long-standing collaboration with John Williams outweighed the rather derivative and bizarre love of alien exposition that Spielberg delights in!
Emily Blunt was undoubtedly amazing. She had the gravity and pathos to pull off the role. I will admit that John Williams' score didn't impress me as much as I expected after hearing some initial reviewers say it's his best work in years. I still contend that "Dial of Destiny" has some of his better late-stage music.