'Disclaimer' Reviews: Limited Series "finishes strong, Cuarón making a powerful statement"

         On October 11, 2024, Apple TV+ releases 'Disclaimer', which has earned predominantly positive reviews from critics, currently holding at 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the miniseries, "Acclaimed journalist Catherine Ravenscroft (Cate Blanchett) built her reputation revealing the misdeeds and transgressions of others. When she receives a novel from an unknown author, she is horrified to realize she is now the main character in a story that exposes her darkest secrets. As Catherine races to uncover the writer's true identity, she is forced to confront her past before it destroys her life and her relationships with her husband Robert (Sacha Baron Cohen) and their son Nicholas (Kodi Smit-McPhee)." The ensemble cast includes Kevin Kline, and Lesley Manville. But what did the critics say?

       Dominic Patten of Deadline Hollywood Daily writes, "If you are expecting a work of towering originality, Disclaimer will disappoint. However, if you want a compelling and disturbing story within a comfort zone of discomforting tropes, Apple TV+ has the follow-up for you to its Presumed Innocent revival."

Photo Courtesy of Apple TV+

        Rodrigo Perez of The Playlist praises the drama, stating, "Ultimately, “Disclaimer” finishes strong, Cuarón making a powerful statement—not anti cancel-culture so much—but about the need for compassion, restraint, and how over-zealous condemnations all make us complicit in a slippery slope culture of spiteful and ungenerous castigation. There’s also a holding-up-a-mirror element of “He who is without sin should cast the first stone” confrontation to its painful conclusion. It’s not a censure from Cuarón, but perhaps a plea for more tolerance and charity between human beings. Where does forgiveness fit in all of this? “Disclaimer” doesn’t quite say, but it does end with an ellipsis suggesting that mercy and kindness are the only viable paths to healing."

       Sean Boelman of FandomWire says, "Alfonso Cuarón is one of the few auteur directors who has conquered the worlds of both prestige and blockbuster filmmaking. His latest project, the Apple TV+ miniseries Disclaimer, falls firmly into the former category, suffering from inaccessible storytelling, but is made worth watching by the committed efforts of its excellent cast and stunning production values." Adding, "Despite the talent in front of and behind the camera, Disclaimer ends up being somewhat underwhelming."

       Daniel Fienberg of Hollywood Reporter notes, "Disclaimer is, then, like one of those Penn & Teller magic tricks in which they tell you exactly what they’re doing and, if they spin their meta-yarn enthusiastically enough, you know you’re being manipulated and you’re still amazed." Continuing, "Adding nuance, even when the story spins its wheels, is the cast. Blanchett is icy and then brittle as Catherine’s life begins to crumble, supplying an aloofness that plays into different interpretations and judgments of her character. Cohen — worthy of recognition for never falling into a single “my wife” punchline — supplies the wishy-washy credulousness that any good story requires, that the audience is meant to emulate or critique. And Smit-McPhee is heartbreaking as a young man doomed to be a supporting player in other people’s tales. It’s a deep enough and good enough cast that it took me multiple episodes to even realize that Catherine’s assistant — assistant in who knows what, since her profession is only relevant to the theme and not the story — is played by HoYeon Jung, so wonderful in her Emmy nominated Squid Game role."