Sacha Baron Cohen is Elite in Apple TV+’s ‘Disclaimer’

Apple TV+ has continued its winning streak with limited series programming, and Disclaimer is no exception. Directed by Academy Award-winner Alfonso Cuarón, the series is an adaptation of Renée Knight’s novel of the same name. The seven-part series premiered on Apple TV+ with its first two episodes on October 11th, and continues with weekly releases every Friday.

This riveting psychological thriller tells the story of a famed journalist who thrives on the reputation she’s built. We quickly learn she has no relationship with her son and the one she has with her spouse appears plastic at best. Her entire world is upended after she receives a novel from an unknown author and quickly realizes the main character is herself. She built her reputation by airing out the dirty laundry of others and now finds herself on the receiving end with her darkest secrets coming to light through this book.

Catherine Ravenscroft (Cate Blanchett) is introduced as an award-winning documentarian by Christiane Amanpour (who plays herself) at a ceremony. With her husband Robert Ravenscroft (Sacha Baron Cohen) by her side, she gives off the appearance of a woman who has it all. That vision quickly crumbles as she subtly dismisses her husband’s affection and goes to the stage. Receiving an honor from The Royal Television Society was surely no small feat, and the fact their son Nicholas (Kodi Smit-Mcphee) was absent told a lot more about their family dynamic.

The Ravenscroft family is only half of the subjects of focus in the story. Another family, the Brigstockes, plays an equally important part in this wild and dramatic story. A retired teacher, Stephen Brigstocke (Kevin Kline) spends his days in solitude at his home. A widower, he often reflects on past events that led up to his current situation. His wife Nancy (Lesley Manville) was a bit of a curmudgeon and a sourpuss whose manner worsened after a tragedy. A beautiful intertwining of first-person accounts, character thoughts, and narration (Indira Varma), Disclaimer is a suspenseful, well-written thriller that challenges audiences to think deeper.

In a remarkably understated performance, Sacha Baron Cohen delivers his finest work. Tasked with a wide range of emotions, he balances them with remarkable skill. Unlike his usual boisterous characters, Cohen plays a subdued figure lacking style and panache. A timid soul who achieved financial success but found little solace at home, Cohen’s character grapples with his wife’s volatile emotions and the challenges of fostering a relationship with his troubled son. In this often overlooked and insecure role, Sacha Baron Cohen showcases a full spectrum of human emotions, delivering a career-defining performance.

Hoyeon was a welcomed sight and favored well as Jisoo, a Junior Reporter who occasionally worked alongside Catherine. The Squid Game star shows her range from an ambitious young reporter to a low-key whistleblower. Kevin Kline glows as a cunning old man haunted by his past. His narration is a fine combination of obsession and crude humor. A Young Catherine, who featured in numerous flashbacks, was played by the talented Leila George. Following in her fellow Aussie Margot Robbie’s footsteps( a la Wolf of Wall Street), George featured in a slew of scenes with full nudity but distanced herself from the aforementioned actress with context. The range of emotions that came with it, along with its importance to the plot and the story, made it understandable that Cuarón and crew would get so graphic. It’s no Titanic scene for sure, but its relevance drives home multiple plot points and plays a key-marker in the story.

Older women with younger men is the new theme in Hollywood and viewers seem to either love it or hate it, without much room in between. The age gap in dating and sex comes to the forefront as well as sexual violence and rape. What’s shown isn’t overly brutal, and actually, mild when compared to other recent projects in film and television. Regardless, the scenes and discussions of such might be triggering to some, which is why each episode is going to greet you with a warning. Despite its explicit content, the series maintains a certain level of restraint compared to other platforms that rhyme with “axe” (Game of Thrones, Industry). While Apple Studios isn’t afraid to test limits, it’s relieving to see they haven’t taken to any extremes.

Disclaimer gets an 8.5 out of 10. Cate Blanchett stars in a role that only she could breathe life into. Her acting was brilliant, but her character was annoying, making gaffs at every possible turn. The writing is brilliant, taking viewers in one direction and having them rethink their own lives in another. While I noted that most of the sex scenes were tamer than most, that’s not defending them whatsoever. At times, the amount of sex scenes seems extraneous (the young couple that opens the series) and there’s also drug use and child neglect. On the bright side, if you can manage through the turbulence, what awaits you is an epic story, gut-wrenching twists, and an ending that will delight your fictional palate.

Disclaimer is available now on Apple TV+.

-Jon Jones

Photos: Courtesy of Apple TV+