“The truth belongs to eight billion people."
Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt; “The Devil Wears Prada,” "The Fall Guy," "Jungle Cruise," "Mary Poppins Returns," "The Girl on the Train," "Edge of Tomorrow," "The Adjustment Bureau"), is a popular meteorologist in Kansas City, has an awakening moment one morning when staring at a beautiful bird. She’s suddenly able to speak foreign languages, read minds, among other superhuman abilities.
Margaret also feels inexplicably drawn toward a man that she doesn’t even know, Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor, “Wake up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery”). Daniel is a cybersecurity expert on the run from stealing decades worth of secrets that he was initially paid to protect.
Daniel is now connecting with the leader of a clandestine clan, Hugo Wakefield (Colman Domingo), who is aiding him to evade a relentless pursuit from Wardex, a shadowy government contractor and profiteer run by Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth; “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” “The King’s Speech”), and to help the whistleblower to unbury the world-changing secret to the public.
Wardex has gotten a hold of alien technology and Noah is able to use its terrifying telepathic ability to control the minds of the people he’s targeting. Noah is repeatedly using Daniel’s girlfriend, Eve Hewson (Jane Blankenship), to track down and capture Daniel.
Eve initially didn’t believe what’s happening. Once it’s shown to her without a shadow of the doubt the existence of aliens, as a former nun, she’s torn between supporting Daniel’s plan to disclose to the world and hiding the truth.
If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? And what would you do? The film posits a believable perspective why it might be much safer to keep the truth hidden.
We are raised to believe in God, sight unseen. Our collective faith makes us feel that It is there. And that spiritual belief in deity has brought mankind together. What would happen then if people find out that there are actual supreme beings on earth? It would divide the world already at the brink of World War III, create further instability, and spread mass paranoia, panic, disorder and disarray.
At the same time, who are we to play God and decide for the world? So what would be the right decision then? Do people deserve to know the truth, and nothing but the entire truth, regardless of the consequences?
The movie is long at 2.5 hours, but it allows fleshed out scenes of the unspeakable suppression and cover up of lies and thrilling action set pieces, including multiple car chases, hold-your-breath train sequence, elusive escapes from secret facilities. Disclosure day leads to a breathtaking reveal, mixed with a bit of cornball, at a global scale.
The movie has the classic touches of visionary director Steven Spielberg (“Jurassic Word,” “Super 8”), whom I had the privilege to see in person at a Comic-Con panel years ago. Blunt is excellently emotive in the role, bringing out Margaret's empath being to the surface.
“Disclosure Day” is a layered, extraterrestrial conspiracy sci-fi thriller, blending in existential mystery and suspenseful action with childlike awe and earnest wonder.