Steven Spielberg's latest sci-fi film, "Disclosure Day," has recently sparked polarized discussions among critics and audiences. Now, Paul Schrader, the acclaimed director and screenwriter from the same 1970s "New Hollywood" generation, known for works like "Taxi Driver" and "American Gigolo," has publicly shared a brief but pointed critique on social media.
Schrader and Spielberg, in fact, share a deep history. Both belonged to the same creative generation as Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palma, George Lucas, and Francis Ford Coppola, and were once rivals.
Notably, Schrader even penned an early draft for Spielberg's classic sci-fi film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," though it was ultimately not used. Spielberg later stated that Schrader's version was darker than the direction he intended for the film. 
Consequently, Schrader's current comments on "Disclosure Day" are drawing particular attention. He simply posted a concise statement on social media: "Disclosure Day": A great chef making a soufflé from leftovers."
This implies that even though Spielberg remains a master craftsman with mature skills, Schrader views the new film as a re-packaging of familiar material.
In the comments section, Schrader further endorsed a netizen's criticism of the film. The user described the movie as "a bland two-hour chase for 10 minutes of excitement, he told the wrong story. The real story is what happens after the evidence is revealed." Schrader responded below, stating, "I agree."
Currently, "Disclosure Day" is receiving highly divided reviews; some praise Spielberg's enduring old-school filmmaking craft, while others criticize the plot as absurd and unconvincing. It is worth noting, however, that Schrader has previously been a strong supporter of Spielberg's recent works, including "West Side Story" and "The Fabelmans," both of which he had listed among his top films of the year.