Renowned Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón, known for classics like Y Tu Mamá También, Children of Men, Gravity, and Roma, returns to television with the Apple TV+ original limited series Disclaimer (stylized as Disclaimer*). This erotic thriller is consistently captivating throughout its seven episodes. Based on the 2015 best-selling novel of the same name by Renée Knight, Disclaimer* follows an unwinding scandal surrounding famed documentary journalist Catherine Ravenscroft (Cate Blanchett). When old explicit photos revealing a secret affair from Catherin’s past resurface, her entire life is turned upside down. Apart from a troublesome relationship with her son Nicholas (Kodi Smit-McPhee), Catherine had everything pretty much going well for her until now.
The scandalous photos in question were taken by the now-deceased Jonathan Brigstocke (Louis Partridge) while traveling with his girlfriend around Europe during his year abroad. Flashbacks of the sexual encounter between Catherine and Jonathan occur alongside the present as her life begins to collapse with the release of a book titled “The Perfect Stranger,” which is penned by an unknown author. Back in the past, we learn that Jonathan tragically drowned trying to save Catherine’s son, as she woke up to find Nicholas on a dinghy far out in the treacherous Italian sea. Truly, each time that Disclaimer* jumps back and forth between the past and present, new shocking revelations are brought to light.
After Jonathan’s parents are called to identify his body, more tragedy strikes. His mother, Nancy Brigstocke (Lesley Manville), is diagnosed with cancer, but not before the Italian police divulge the explicit photos involving Catherine and other details to her. Years later, Jonathan’s father, Stephen Brigstocke (Kevin Kline), discovers that his late wife had been writing a book based on these dark secrets. So, he decides to publish it to get back to Catherine. His plan to ruin Catherine’s life is elaborate as he sends copies of “The Perfect Stranger,” which depicts her as a villain, and the controversial photos to those closest to her. Stephen’s relentless pursuit of revenge doesn’t just threaten Catherine’s family and career but her entire existence.
Alfonso Cuarón’s show deals with themes of personal trauma and people’s preconceptions as it uncovers painful truths relating to repressed memories. To understand the full scope of the story and what Cuaron is trying to achieve, one must watch the entirety of this limited series, as it’s heavily complex with many fascinating layers. Episode by episode, Disclaimer* unveils new information that makes viewers question their attachment to certain characters and rethink who they empathize with the most. Clever techniques are used during scenes showcasing Catherine and Jonathan’s past affair, which is told by an unknown female narrator from the novel’s perspective, not reality. One such trick is seen through classic iris transitions, highlighting Jonathan’s youthful energy and infatuation for Catherine.
Cate Blanchett is simply incredible in Disclaimer*, delivering a wonderfully nuanced performance that forces her to go through every emotion imaginable. Actress Leila George (Animal Kingdom) does much of the legwork for Blanchett as she portrays young Catherine in the flashbacks. George is radiant during the scenes where Jonathan is seduced by her, but as a major twist occurs, her duties change to the dramatic, where she truly excels.
Sacha Baron Cohen plays Catherine’s husband, Robert Ravenscroft, who is initially supportive but is thrown into a downward spiral of doubt as he deals with his insecurities following the scandal. Robert always questioned why Catherine was with him, leading to his quick decision to kick her out of their home. He never once thought about listening to her side of the story after reading “The Perfect Stranger” and seeing the photos that painted a specific, erotic picture. Meanwhile, actor Louis Partridge (Argylle) is a star in the making as he delivers a compelling performance in Disclaimer* that gets better as the layers of the narrative are slowly unraveled.
The great Kevin Kline’s character is the main villain of Disclaimer* as he mischievously tries to get revenge on Catherine, whom he blames for losing his son. Kline deviously uses his age to act like an innocent old man, frequently changing his voice and acting strangely when talking to people. He takes great joy in shattering Catherine’s life one step at a time, as he throws a fake grenade behind him every time he messes with her. Stephan Brigstocke is an entertaining and playful antagonist who is superbly methodical as he enacts his master plan.
Teaming up with cinematography masters Bruno Delbonnel (The Tragedy of Macbeth) and Emmanuel Lubezki (The Revenant), Alfonso Cuarón creates an enticing visual palette in Disclaimer* that constantly juxtaposes all of the different perspectives. There are three different visual perspectives in the show: the gloomy, downtrodden visuals for Stephen Brigstocke’s villainous storyline, the innocent, heavenly sun-soaked visuals in the Italian summer flashbacks, and a soft, refined look when following Catherine in the present-day UK. The camera reacts to the emotions and drama on display, becoming destabilized as things descend into chaos in the present. It’s incredible work from the two cinematographers who perfectly capture the array of fast-shifting emotions in Disclaimer*.
Alfonso Cuarón’s Disclaimer* is an enthralling watch that will endlessly captivate audiences as they go through the series. Effective cliffhangers and unresolved story threads force viewer retention as one becomes heavily involved in the mystery unfolding, waiting for its eventual conclusion. Watching only a few episodes is a great disservice to this limited series, as it feels like an entirely different show by the end of episode 7. Watching the whole thing won’t be a problem, though, because once one starts Disclaimer*, they simply cannot stop.
The first two episodes of Disclaimer* are now streaming on Apple TV+. New episodes premiere each Friday!
Premiere Date: October 11, 2024.
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón.
Written by Alfonso Cuarón.
Based on Disclaimer by Renée Knight.
Executive Producers: Alfonso Cuarón, Cate Blanchett, Gabriela Rodríguez, David Levine, Steve Golin, Emmanuel Lubezki, Donald Sabourin, & Carlos Morales.
Main Cast: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen, Leila George, Adam El Hagar, Lesley Manville, Louis Partridge, Indira Varma, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Art Malik, Liv Hill, Christiane Amanpour, HoYeon, & Gemma Jones.
Cinematographers: Emmanuel Lubezki & Bruno Delbonnel.
Composer: Finneas O’Connell.
Production Companies: Esperanto Filmoj, Dirty Films, Parts Laborm, & Anonymous Content.
Episode Count: 7 (Limited Series).
