Disclaimer (TV series) explained

Genre:	Drama Psychological thriller
Director:	Alfonso Cuarón
Narrator:	Indira Varma Kevin Kline
Composer:	Finneas O'Connell
Num Episodes:	7
Runtime:	45–55 minutes
Network:	Apple TV+

Disclaimer (stylized as DISCLAIMER*)^[1] is a psychological thriller miniseries written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Renée Knight. It stars Cate Blanchett as a documentarian who is forced to confront her past, and Kevin Kline as the father of the boy she let drown in Italy 20 years earlier. The supporting cast includes Sacha Baron Cohen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Louis Partridge, Leila George and Lesley Manville.

The series made its debut at the 81st Venice International Film Festival before premiering on Apple TV+ on October 11, 2024, with its first two episodes. It received generally positive reviews from critics.

Premise

Catherine Ravenscroft, a famed documentary journalist, discovers she is a prominent character in a novel that purports to reveal a secret she has tried to keep hidden.

Style

The story is revealed in a non-linear fashion with scenes alternating between a holiday in Italy (young Catherine’s encounter with Jonathan and his subsequent death by drowning) and back home in London twenty years later (the truth emerges, the consequences). The series also uses the technique of unreliable narrator in that the events in Italy are told twice: first from Nancy's speculative point of view and later from Catherine's first person experience.

Cast

Main

• Cate Blanchett as Catherine Ravenscroft, an award-winning journalist and documentarian.^{[2] [3] [4]}
  • Leila George as young Catherine Ravenscroft
• Kevin Kline as Stephen Brigstocke, a retired private school teacher who harbors a grudge against Catherine.^[5]
• Sacha Baron Cohen as Robert Ravenscroft, Catherine's husband who runs a corrupt non-profit company.^[6]
  • Adam El Hagar as young Robert Ravenscroft
• Lesley Manville as Nancy Brigstocke, Stephen's late wife.^[7]
• Louis Partridge as Jonathan Brigstocke, Stephen and Nancy's deceased son.
• Indira Varma as the Narrator
• Kodi Smit-McPhee as Nicholas Ravenscroft, Catherine and Robert's aimless, drug-addled son.

Guest

• Art Malik as Justin, Stephen's publisher and former colleague
• Liv Hill as Sasha, Jonathan's girlfriend
• Christiane Amanpour as herself
• HoYeon Jung as Jisoo Kim, Catherine's assistant
• Michael Spicer as Simon, Catherine's colleague
• Gemma Jones as Helen, Catherine's mother who suffers from dementia
• Youssef Kerkour as Richard Perkins, a detective sent to Italy to help Stephen and Nancy after Jonathan's death

Production

In December 2021, it was announced that Alfonso Cuarón was writing and directing a series for Apple TV+, with Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline starring and Emmanuel Lubezki and Bruno Delbonnel serving as cinematographers.^[8] In February 2022, Kodi Smit-McPhee joined the cast while Sacha Baron Cohen entered negotiations for a role.^{[9] [10]} Cohen was confirmed the following month, with HoYeon Jung also added to the cast.^[11]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Apple TV+ unveils trailer for highly anticipated limited series "Disclaimer" .
2. Web site: White . Peter . December 1, 2021 . Cate Blanchett & Kevin Kline To Star In Alfonso Cuarón Thriller Series 'Disclaimer' For Apple . July 31, 2024 . Deadline . en-US.
3. Breznican . Anthony . July 30, 2024 . Cate Blanchett Faces Public Shaming in 'Disclaimer,' Alfonso Cuarón's Revenge Thriller . July 31, 2024 . Vanity Fair . en-US.
4. Web site: Alfonso Cuarón on how the danger of secrets informs new revenge thriller 'Disclaimer' . 2024-09-14 . EW.com . en.
5. Web site: White . Peter . December 1, 2021 . Cate Blanchett & Kevin Kline To Star In Alfonso Cuarón Thriller Series 'Disclaimer' For Apple . July 31, 2024 . Deadline . en-US.
6. News: July 31, 2024 . Alfonso Cuarón's upcoming Apple TV series 'Disclaimer' drops first look . July 31, 2024 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.
7. Web site: Otterson . Joe . June 10, 2022 . Lesley Manville Joins Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline in Alfonso Cuarón Apple Series 'Disclaimer' (EXCLUSIVE) . July 31, 2024 . Variety . en-US.
8. Web site: White . Peter . Cate Blanchett & Kevin Kline To Star In Alfonso Cuarón Thriller Series 'Disclaimer' For Apple . . December 1, 2021 . December 1, 2021.
9. Web site: Grobar . Matt . Alfonso Cuarón's Apple Series Disclaimer Adds The Power Of The Dog Oscar Nominee Kodi Smit-McPhee . . March 1, 2022 . February 28, 2022.
10. Web site: Fleming . Mike Jr. . Sacha Baron Cohen In Talks To Join Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline In Alfonso Cuarón's Apple TV+ Series Disclaimer . . February 24, 2022 . February 23, 2022.
11. Web site: Otterson . Joe . Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline Apple Series Disclaimer Casts Enola Holmes Star Louis Partridge . . May 2, 2022 . May 2, 2022.
12. Web site: Otterson . Joe . Lesley Manville Joins Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline in Alfonso Cuarón Apple Series Disclaimer (EXCLUSIVE) . . June 10, 2022 . June 10, 2022.
13. Web site: Cordero. Rosy. Alfonso Cuarón Thriller Series 'Disclaimer' Adds Leila George . Deadline Hollywood. October 22, 2022. October 21, 2022.
14. Web site: Filming in London - June 2022 . . June 3, 2022 . June 1, 2022.
15. News: The Globe and Mail . TIFF 2024: Cate Blanchett drama from Alfonso Cuarón, The Tragically Hip docuseries lead festival's Primetime program . Barry Hertz . August 9, 2024 . August 19, 2024 .
16. Web site: Toronto International Film Festival . 2024 . TIFF Lightbox / Film + Events / Disclaimer . August 19, 2024 .
17. Web site: Ramachandran . Naman . 2024-09-04 . Angelina Jolie, Daniel Craig, Elton John, Andrew Garfield, Saoirse Ronan Titles Among BFI London Film Festival Full Lineup . 2024-10-10 . Variety . en-US.
18. Web site: Shanfeld. Ethan. 'Disclaimer' First Look: Alfonso Cuarón's Thriller Series With Cate Blanchett Sets October Premiere on Apple TV+. Variety. June 25, 2024. June 25, 2024.
19. disclaimer. Disclaimer. tv. 1. October 17, 2024.
20. disclaimer. Disclaimer. tv. 1. October 17, 2024.
21. Web site: Willman. Chris. Hollywood Music in Media Awards Noms Led by 'Emilia Pérez' and 'Blitz,' With Elton John, Hans Zimmer and Scores More Among the Nominees. Hollywood Music in Media Awards. November 6, 2024. November 6, 2024.
22. Web site: Del Rosario . Alexandra . Squid Games Hoyeon to Join Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline For Apple TV+ Series Disclaimer |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/squid-games-hoyeon-cate-blanchett-apple-disclaimer-1234981422/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=March 17, 2022 |date=March 17, 2022}} Louis Partridge joined the cast in May,^[11] and Lesley Manville joined the next month.^[12] Leila George was added to the cast in October.^[13]

    Filming for the series had begun by June 2022 in Archway, London; Mexico, and Sydney, and finished production in February 2023.^[14]

    Release

    Disclaimer was screened at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 29, 2024, was screened at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, in the Primetime program, and it was screened at the 2024 BFI London Film Festival on October 10, as a special event.^{[15] [16] [17]} It premiered on October 11, 2024, on Apple TV+, with the first two episodes available immediately and then two on October 18, 2024, then one a week, until November 8, 2024.^[18]

    Reception

    Critical response

    On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 77% with an average rating of 7.4/10, based on 93 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "An intelligent offering from a dream team of talent that also dishes some plain pulpy pleasures, Disclaimer is a dense and rewarding psychological puzzle."^[19] Metacritic calculated a weighted average of 71 out of 100 based on 30 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.^[20]

    Accolades

    Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result
    	Hollywood Music in Media Awards	Original Score – TV Show/Limited Series	Finneas O'Connell		^[21]
    		Soundtrack Album	Disclaimer

    External links

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