Acclaimed Director Steven Spielberg Reveals His Most Underrated Film Was Sadly Misunderstood by Audiences Everywhere
NEW YORK – For all the fans of Steven Spielberg's sci-fi movies, it is essential to acknowledge the significant influence of his mother, Leah Adler, on his work, as she played a pivotal role in shaping his fascination with the genre.
Throughout his illustrious career spanning nearly half a century, the three-time Oscar winner has consistently explored the concept of alien life in films such as "War of the Worlds," "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," inviting audiences to ponder the implications of extraterrestrial existence. His latest film, "Disclosure Day," scheduled to be released in theaters on June 12, is a project that Spielberg believes would have been a favorite of his late mother, Leah Adler, who was not only an accomplished pianist but also a successful restaurateur.
According to Spielberg, his mother would often express her thoughts on the possibility of intelligent life existing elsewhere in the universe, saying, "Let's not be conceited to think that we're the only intelligent life in the universe." She would frequently make humorous remarks, such as, "Well, there's got to be many more intelligent planets out there," to which Spielberg would respond, "Mom, we're pretty smart," and she would counter with, "No, there's got to be a lot more we can learn if we open up our hearts and minds." These conversations had a profound impact on Spielberg's perspective, and he acknowledges that his mother was a champion of encouraging him to explore the unknown.
The movie "Disclosure Day" tells the story of a young whistleblower, played by Josh O'Connor, who is being pursued by government officials after threatening to release sensitive information that definitively proves the existence of aliens. Meanwhile, a Kansas City meteorologist, played by Emily Blunt, seeks him out after discovering she has an uncanny ability for otherworldly communication. The film is based on an original idea by Spielberg, who is now 79 years old and has reunited with "Jurassic Park" screenwriter David Koepp to bring this story to life. In a recent interview, USA TODAY spoke with the filmmaker about his thoughts on aliens, AI, and his passion for continuing to make movies.
This interview has been edited and condensed to provide clarity and conciseness, while maintaining the essence of the conversation.
The question was posed to Spielberg: After 50 years of creating films about life beyond this planet, how has your own understanding of extraterrestrials evolved or changed over time?
Spielberg responded by saying that when he made "Close Encounters," he relied heavily on his imagination, believing that there was other life out there, although he was not entirely certain if it had visited Earth. He was fascinated by UFOs and UAPs, and he chose to refer to "Close Encounters" as "science speculation" rather than science fiction. However, since the beginning of the 21st century, there has been an increase in access to visual evidence, allowing people to confirm their beliefs by sharing what they have captured on their devices with others. This accumulation of evidence has led Spielberg to become increasingly convinced that we are not alone in the universe.
The question was then asked: If an alien were to appear at your doorstep tomorrow, would you react any differently than you might have 50 years ago?
Spielberg reflected on his experience while making "E.T.," where he observed Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore becoming completely enamored with the character of E.T. Drew, in particular, was so convinced that E.T. was a living, breathing entity that she did not seem to notice the 15 special effects people controlling the character. This experience led Spielberg to wonder whether it is only children who can believe in extraterrestrial life or if it is possible for adults to retain a sense of childish curiosity and openness to the possibility of alien existence.
Spielberg also shared his thoughts on the concept of a "disclosure day," where the existence of aliens would be officially revealed to the public. Given his extensive experience in creating science-fiction movies, he believes that he would not be surprised if such an event were to occur. Instead, he would feel a sense of gratitude and wonder.
There is a significant line in the movie "Disclosure Day" that states, "I don't want to be anyone's religion." As a filmmaker, Spielberg's movies have had a profound impact on shaping people's worldviews, and many directors admire and idolize him. The question was asked: Are you uncomfortable with the sort of attention and reverence that you receive?
Spielberg responded by saying that he does not feel as though he has grown into the role of an iconic filmmaker, but rather, he looks back to the directors who inspired and trained him. He owes a great debt to the cineastes from around the world, including Akira Kurosawa, Alfred Hitchcock, François Truffaut, and Luc Besson, whose films he has watched countless times. Additionally, he is motivated by contemporary directors, who inspire him to continue making movies. When he sees a film like "One Battle After Another," he feels encouraged to keep creating. The work of other filmmakers, such as Paul Thomas Anderson, has a profound impact on him, and he feels grateful to be a part of a community that continues to evolve and grow.
Spielberg's 2001 movie, "A.I. Artificial Intelligence," has undergone a critical reevaluation in recent years and is now regarded as one of his best works. The question was asked: Why do you think it took 25 years for the film to receive the recognition it deserves?
Spielberg believes that the world has finally caught up with the film's vision, which was originally conceived by Stanley Kubrick. Spielberg wrote the screenplay, but it was Kubrick's idea, and he had the opportunity to work with Kubrick for 15 years before the legendary director passed away. Kubrick's influence on science fiction is immense, and his film "2001: A Space Odyssey" paved the way for movies like "Alien," "Star Wars," and "Close Encounters" to be made. The film "A.I." was initially misunderstood by some viewers, who believed that the ending featured aliens rather than super-mecha or robots. However, with the advent of the digital era and the rapid advancement of AI, the film's themes and ideas have become more relevant and accessible to audiences.
The question was posed to Spielberg: If robots were to discover and study one of your movies 2,000 years from now, what do you hope that would be?
Spielberg humbly responded that he would be arrogant to specify a particular film, as it is like choosing a favorite child. He loves all of his movies equally and believes that each one has its own unique value and significance.
In the movie "Disclosure Day," the characters present all the evidence they have gathered to prove the existence of aliens, essentially saying, "This is everything we've got." The question was asked: Does this movie feel like your final say about extraterrestrials, or is it a culmination of your thoughts on the subject?
Spielberg views "Disclosure Day" as a summation of his trilogy, which includes "Close Encounters," "E.T.," and now "Disclosure Day." However, he emphasizes that this film will not mark the end of his curiosity or his love for science fiction. He will continue to explore the possibilities of extraterrestrial life and the wonders of the universe through his work.
Throughout his illustrious career spanning nearly half a century, the three-time Oscar winner has consistently explored the concept of alien life in films such as "War of the Worlds," "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," inviting audiences to ponder the implications of extraterrestrial existence. His latest film, "Disclosure Day," scheduled to be released in theaters on June 12, is a project that Spielberg believes would have been a favorite of his late mother, Leah Adler, who was not only an accomplished pianist but also a successful restaurateur.
According to Spielberg, his mother would often express her thoughts on the possibility of intelligent life existing elsewhere in the universe, saying, "Let's not be conceited to think that we're the only intelligent life in the universe." She would frequently make humorous remarks, such as, "Well, there's got to be many more intelligent planets out there," to which Spielberg would respond, "Mom, we're pretty smart," and she would counter with, "No, there's got to be a lot more we can learn if we open up our hearts and minds." These conversations had a profound impact on Spielberg's perspective, and he acknowledges that his mother was a champion of encouraging him to explore the unknown.
The movie "Disclosure Day" tells the story of a young whistleblower, played by Josh O'Connor, who is being pursued by government officials after threatening to release sensitive information that definitively proves the existence of aliens. Meanwhile, a Kansas City meteorologist, played by Emily Blunt, seeks him out after discovering she has an uncanny ability for otherworldly communication. The film is based on an original idea by Spielberg, who is now 79 years old and has reunited with "Jurassic Park" screenwriter David Koepp to bring this story to life. In a recent interview, USA TODAY spoke with the filmmaker about his thoughts on aliens, AI, and his passion for continuing to make movies.
This interview has been edited and condensed to provide clarity and conciseness, while maintaining the essence of the conversation.
The question was posed to Spielberg: After 50 years of creating films about life beyond this planet, how has your own understanding of extraterrestrials evolved or changed over time?
Spielberg responded by saying that when he made "Close Encounters," he relied heavily on his imagination, believing that there was other life out there, although he was not entirely certain if it had visited Earth. He was fascinated by UFOs and UAPs, and he chose to refer to "Close Encounters" as "science speculation" rather than science fiction. However, since the beginning of the 21st century, there has been an increase in access to visual evidence, allowing people to confirm their beliefs by sharing what they have captured on their devices with others. This accumulation of evidence has led Spielberg to become increasingly convinced that we are not alone in the universe.
The question was then asked: If an alien were to appear at your doorstep tomorrow, would you react any differently than you might have 50 years ago?
Spielberg reflected on his experience while making "E.T.," where he observed Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore becoming completely enamored with the character of E.T. Drew, in particular, was so convinced that E.T. was a living, breathing entity that she did not seem to notice the 15 special effects people controlling the character. This experience led Spielberg to wonder whether it is only children who can believe in extraterrestrial life or if it is possible for adults to retain a sense of childish curiosity and openness to the possibility of alien existence.
Spielberg also shared his thoughts on the concept of a "disclosure day," where the existence of aliens would be officially revealed to the public. Given his extensive experience in creating science-fiction movies, he believes that he would not be surprised if such an event were to occur. Instead, he would feel a sense of gratitude and wonder.
There is a significant line in the movie "Disclosure Day" that states, "I don't want to be anyone's religion." As a filmmaker, Spielberg's movies have had a profound impact on shaping people's worldviews, and many directors admire and idolize him. The question was asked: Are you uncomfortable with the sort of attention and reverence that you receive?
Spielberg responded by saying that he does not feel as though he has grown into the role of an iconic filmmaker, but rather, he looks back to the directors who inspired and trained him. He owes a great debt to the cineastes from around the world, including Akira Kurosawa, Alfred Hitchcock, François Truffaut, and Luc Besson, whose films he has watched countless times. Additionally, he is motivated by contemporary directors, who inspire him to continue making movies. When he sees a film like "One Battle After Another," he feels encouraged to keep creating. The work of other filmmakers, such as Paul Thomas Anderson, has a profound impact on him, and he feels grateful to be a part of a community that continues to evolve and grow.
Spielberg's 2001 movie, "A.I. Artificial Intelligence," has undergone a critical reevaluation in recent years and is now regarded as one of his best works. The question was asked: Why do you think it took 25 years for the film to receive the recognition it deserves?
Spielberg believes that the world has finally caught up with the film's vision, which was originally conceived by Stanley Kubrick. Spielberg wrote the screenplay, but it was Kubrick's idea, and he had the opportunity to work with Kubrick for 15 years before the legendary director passed away. Kubrick's influence on science fiction is immense, and his film "2001: A Space Odyssey" paved the way for movies like "Alien," "Star Wars," and "Close Encounters" to be made. The film "A.I." was initially misunderstood by some viewers, who believed that the ending featured aliens rather than super-mecha or robots. However, with the advent of the digital era and the rapid advancement of AI, the film's themes and ideas have become more relevant and accessible to audiences.
The question was posed to Spielberg: If robots were to discover and study one of your movies 2,000 years from now, what do you hope that would be?
Spielberg humbly responded that he would be arrogant to specify a particular film, as it is like choosing a favorite child. He loves all of his movies equally and believes that each one has its own unique value and significance.
In the movie "Disclosure Day," the characters present all the evidence they have gathered to prove the existence of aliens, essentially saying, "This is everything we've got." The question was asked: Does this movie feel like your final say about extraterrestrials, or is it a culmination of your thoughts on the subject?
Spielberg views "Disclosure Day" as a summation of his trilogy, which includes "Close Encounters," "E.T.," and now "Disclosure Day." However, he emphasizes that this film will not mark the end of his curiosity or his love for science fiction. He will continue to explore the possibilities of extraterrestrial life and the wonders of the universe through his work.
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