Disclaimer: Alfonso Cuaron stacks luscious Apple TV thriller with top-tier, Oscar-winning talent

When you hear and then see legendary broadcast journalist Christiane Amanpour in an early scene of Disclaimer, the only reaction is, “Whoa, what a flex”.

Disclaimer is built on layers of flexes, speaking to the power of five-time Oscar winner Alfonso Cuaron (Roma, Gravity, Children of Men) to draw the deepest of talent to his first series for a streamer.

Firstly, the lead is Cate Blanchett, supported by Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen (who has yet to miss in a dramatic role), Lesley Manville and Kodi Smit-McPhee, all Oscar winners or nominees.

Then, Cuaron enlisted his frequent cinematographer three-time Oscar winner Emmanuel Lubezki, whose visual compositions are so stunning it is literally jaw-dropping. Lubezki shares cinematography duties with Bruno Delbonnel, best known for his work with the Coen brothers. Billie Eilish’s brother and creative partner Finneas O’Connell composed the sumptuous score.

So, yes, Disclaimer boasts quite the line-up. It shows because this lush psychological thriller is very well put-together. It’s handsome, accomplished and technically brilliant. That’s something to remember when the frustration builds over how awful some of the characters are and behave.

Disclaimer is slow to show its hand, but Amanpour’s line at the start — “Beware of narrative and form, their power can bring us closer to the truth but they can also be a weapon with a great power to manipulate” — is a warning to heed.

Catherine Ravenscroft (Blanchett) is a storyteller. She’s a respected journalist and documentarian, unearthing truths and presenting them to the world but her life is undone when a self-published book arrives anonymously.

This book, The Perfect Stranger, purportedly tells the tale of a youthful dalliance in Catherine’s past, a secret that if let out, will destroy her sterling image and her relationships.

As a young mother, while on holiday in Italy, Catherine (Leila George in flashbacks), had an affair with a young traveller named Jonathan (Louis Partridge) who then died. Jonathan’s parents hold Catherine responsible for reasons that will be revealed over the series, and Jonathan’s mother (Manville) died some years earlier, embittered by her grief.

His father Stephen (Kline) is deadset on revenge, looking to destroy every aspect of Catherine’s life, including her marriage to Robert (Baron Cohen) and her son Nicholas (Smit-McPhee). Kline’s performance of the slippery Stephen makes your skin crawl, another facet of a series trying to challenge your empathies.

Who are you supposed to side with when everyone, seemingly, has done so much wrong? The disappointing and surly son? The quick-to-judge and meek husband? The imperious woman? The destructive father?

Remember Amanpour’s words, because Disclaimer holds secrets, many of which you’ll suspect before Cuaron exposes them. But it takes too long to get there and all the characters risk losing your compassion because it can be relentless in how unpleasant they can be. There needed to be more of a balance.

As a piece of formal filmmaking, there is so much about Disclaimer to admire. The performances are superb, the photography truly beautiful, the production design so inviting and Cuaron’s command of tone is always masterful.

But Disclaimer often lacks heart, and by the time it declares its sympathies and gets to the core of what it’s trying to say, it’s possible you didn’t make it that far.

Disclaimer is on Apple TV+ from Friday, October 11 with new episodes weekly