Disclosure Day's Train Scene Is One Of The Best Stunts Spielberg Has Made In Years - MCE Notices | California State Portal

Steven Spielberg made his exciting return to blockbuster cinema with Disclosure Day, a movie that features one of his best stunts in years. Exploring the consequences of revealing the existence of aliens to humanity, the film builds on themes and ideas seen in earlier classics by the director, such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and War of the Worlds.

Audiences flock to Spielberg’s work for the thematic depth of his movies’ ideas, but also for action-packed spectacle and some of the most exciting stunts ever committed to screen. As a master of the art form, Spielberg knows how to shoot a scene better than anybody, and Disclosure Day is another stellar entry in a filmography few other directors even come close to matching.

With Emily Blunt delivering perhaps her greatest performance, and an incredible ensemble cast uplifted by great actors like Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, and relative newcomer Eve Hewson, Disclosure Day also demonstrates Spielberg’s ability to get the best out of his actors. From the moment the film begins to its jaw-dropping conclusion, the fast-paced intensity of Disclosure Day makes it a highlight of his 21st-century work.

However, for all the excitement throughout, there is one particular scene that stands above the rest in terms of action and intensity. Although it lasts only a few short minutes, with this stunt Spielberg proves he’s still got it and, even at 79 years of age, is more than capable of living up to his lofty legacy and delivering shots that are as urgent and compelling as those of any of the best up-and-coming filmmakers working today.

Disclosure Day’s Train Sequence Is Spielberg At His Best

In terms of pure, high-octane action, Disclosure Day’s train scene stands out as the pivotal moment in Spielberg’s return to big-budget popcorn cinema. With rogue cybersecurity expert Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor) and local news meteorologist Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt) embroiled in a death-defying escape from Wardex Corporation leader Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth), the chaotic pursuit comes to a screeching halt when they find themselves stranded on train tracks as the ominous sound of an oncoming train blares in the background.

As Daniel screams “we’ve got to jump” and Margaret panickily replies “I can’t, I’m standing on the brakes,” viewers’ hearts are racing as we wonder how they’re going to make it out alive. But, rather than leap out of the car with one second to spare, as has been seen in so many movies before, Spielberg made the decision to actually let the train hit them as they’re thrust down the tracks with the car barely hanging on by a thread.

Perfectly choreographed, the ensuing moments pair Hitchcockian suspense with more modern sensibilities to create a sense of urgency that affects audiences deeply. Then, just when it feels like things couldn’t get any more intense, another train comes plowing down the opposite set of tracks and Daniel and Margaret must defy the odds as they inexplicably manage to survive.

In a lesser director’s hands, this moment would have overtaken the entire film, with the train sequence extended far longer than it needs to be and the urgency of the moment diminishing with each passing minute. But Spielberg understands that less is more and lets Disclosure Day’s train scene stand out as a brief highlight that doesn’t overwhelm the thematic depth that truly drives the narrative.

Big Ideas Give Disclosure Day More Than Just Spectacle

Emily Blunt's Margaret holding a glowing piece of alien technology while a group of people stand behind her looking worried in Disclosure Day — Emily Blunt’s Margaret holding a glowing piece of alien technology while a group of people stand behind her looking worried in Disclosure Day

Disclosure Day serves as the conclusion of an unofficial trilogy for Spielberg, extending his work on Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. as he explores humanity’s relationship with aliens and the government’s desire to keep that relationship from them. This leans into some of the most consistent and interesting themes of his work, and with this final installment, he reckons with the true consequences of it going public.

Disclosure Day tackles some heavy themes as it balances the implications of science with the deep-rooted teachings of faith and religion. From Jane Blankenship’s (Hewson) past as a nun to the embittered pain the villainous Noah carries after his wife’s death, every character in Disclosure Day grapples with something as the world stands on the precipice of total transformation.

While Spielberg is a master of spectacle, there’s always been far more to his appeal, as his empathetic nature taps into something universal among all viewers. This is perfectly embodied by Margaret’s ability to read the deepest recesses of the souls of everyone she meets, and rather than overcoming obstacles by brute force, she uses her empathetic understanding as a superpower to bypass cops and government agents.

As a sci-fi thriller, Spielberg ensured there was never a dull moment in Disclosure Day, but he didn’t do this at the expense of its thematic depth. Bolstered by an epic score from his frequent collaborator John Williams, Disclosure Day rightfully stands alongside titanic works like Jurassic Park and Minority Report for the way it balances grand ideas with the appeal of mainstream action.

Disclosure Day Adds Another Classic Action Scene To Spielberg’s Legacy

Young Margaret in Disclosure Day With Aliens

The train scene in Disclosure Day stands out as one of Spielberg’s best stunts in a long time, but when looking at his entire career, it’s got a lot to live up to. Whether it’s the subtle way he saved the sight of the shark in Jaws for maximum impact or the iconic boulder chase that kickstarts Raiders of the Lost Ark, everyone will have a different answer for what Spielberg’s greatest stunt is.

Some might point to the impressive practical effects of the T. rex in Jurassic Park; others might even say the flying bike in E.T. Whatever they choose, it’s sure to be an all-time great moment in the history of cinema, as few filmmakers have had as vast and varied a career as he. Spielberg has consistently pushed himself to greatness, as seen from the Omaha Beach landing in Saving Private Ryan, which stands out as one of the largest practical action sequences ever attempted.

Disclosure Day feels like Spielberg going back to his roots in many ways, as it not only deals with his classic topic of extraterrestrials but also brings to mind the train scene itself, which recalls the tanker-truck finale of Duel, one of his very first movies. Released four years before Jaws, this epic road thriller brings to mind Disclosure Day’s heart-racing train scene and proves, more than anything, that Spielberg never lost touch with the fiery young filmmaker who yearned to entertain the world.