Disclosure (1994)

This is a psychological thriller, which neatly plots a few days in the life of an technical executive in a computer company and his interaction with his colleagues, all as ambitious as he is himself. The film improves on Michael Crichton's novel by showing us how manipulative modern management is, when the bottom line is a big bonus to the bosses. Donald Sutherland, is excellent as the Boss who wants an important merger to work. And he thinks he has the person to make it do just that - the Demi Moore character, equallly excellent in a difficult role. Michael Douglas (excellent too)finds himself sidelined,being unaware of the bigger issues at stake. The plot becomes complicated by his being sexually harassed by Demi Moore's character - an issue which upset The Feminist Sisterhood - and possibly lost the film support from female viewers? But the plots and counter plots are clever. The end is not signalled in any obvious way and the use of the advanced computer system is absolutely central to the development of the story. The plot could be used as a blueprint for any story about corruption; backstabbing; corporate malpractice & legal manipulation. Cast your mind back to the Arbitration sessions - watch the by-play of the two attorneys. This is powerful cinema. I give it 9.5.

Fmovies: Disclosure came at just about the right time. Computers and the use of technology such as virtual reality was at its height in the early 90s, as were work place harassment and issues related to that. Certainly in Hollywood it seemed that is all they made and Michael Douglas seemed to have a propensity to choose such scripts where he is falsely accused and framed. Demi Moore is ravishing here and the pacing is really good. The setting used is good- scenic Pacific Northwest as opposed to Los Angeles and New York City. You should watch this film if you haven't already.

'Disclosure' is not to be missed. The plot is well-known enough not to be summarized here, but suffice it to say that this movie is loaded with crackling drama, edge-of-your-seat suspense, witty and snappy dialogue (best line - Garvin, on transferring Sanders to Austin: "Making a lateral move to Austin is like a duck making a lateral move to 'a l'orange'".) and a celluloid-melting seduction scene. Excellent acting all around (I like Michael Douglas, I don't care what they say), and the movie captures in a visceral way the high-powered, high-stakes, cutthroat world of business politics in the world of leading edge computer hardware and software development. My wife and I both give this one a straight 'A'.

Disclosure fmovies. Even though I haven't read the book, if you ask me, DISCLOSURE is an excellent film that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat and blow you away. Meredith (Demi Moore) kind of gave me the creeps. You'll understand why once you've read the book and seen this movie. However, I loved the way that Catherine (Roma Maffia) worked with Tom (Michael Douglas). In my opinion, the performances were top grade, the direction was superior, the costumes were perfectly designed, and the cast was perfectly chosen. Also, the soundtrack is really good, too. Before I wrap this up, I must warn you that this movie has some heavy sexual content if you're going to see it, so viewer discretion is strongly advised. Now, in conclusion, if you enjoyed Michael Crichton's title novel or like Barry Levinson films, I highly recommend this movie. It's sure to keep you guessing from start to finish.

Disclosure is directed by Barry Levinson and co-adapted to screenplay by Paul Attanasio and Michael Crichton from Crichton's own novel of the same name. It stars Michael Douglas, Demi Moore, Donald Sutherland, Roma Maffia, Dylan Baker, Caroline Goodall and Rosemary Forsyth. Music is scored by Ennio Morricone.

Tom Sanders (Douglas) is an executive at DigiCom, a high-tech computer company, who hopes that now it's finally his time to get promotion. Passed over for an outsider, he's further irked when it turns out to be Meredith Johnson (Moore), an old passionate flame of his from years previously. When Meredith arranges for a meeting between the two later that evening, Tom finds himself sexually harassed by her. Spurning her aggressive overtures, Tom is shocked to learn the next day that she has filed a charge of sexual harassment against him. He naturally counters the charge, but this opens up a can of worms for both him and the future of DigiCom.

The 1990s practically belonged to Michael Crichton, it seemed for a time that everything he wrote was adapted to the big screen for some form of entertainment. With Jurassic Park still warm and still garnering bucket loads of cash, two other Crichton adaptations worked their way into theatres; both of which were a world away from the family friendly extravaganza of Jurassic Park. One was Rising Sun, a messy wasted potential of a movie, the other was Disclosure, a zeitgeist snatcher that seized the moment.

The topic, and the novelty of flipping the gender aggressor, was always going to make Disclosure of much interest, thus the film and the novel made big money: aided still further by the hot casting of Douglas and Moore, who were still draw cards in the early 90s. Crichton, after being displeased with other adaptations of his work, got big say on the screenplay as a written project. So with director Levinson in tow, he set about pushing the buttons of his audience, attempting to continue the heated debates that were brought about previously from Douglas' Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct. If it's Crichton's or Levinson's fault that it didn't work out that way? I'm not sure, but fact is, is that Disclosure really wasn't that potent back then, and certainly now it's not even lukewarm.

There's too much techno babble going on, and an over keenness to stick the nose up at the big business vultures picking the flesh off of the lesser minions. Entering the last half hour of the film, it's easy to forget there has actually been a sexual harassment case! Here's the crux of the matter, if going in to it for a first time viewing expecting this to be a powder-keg of sexual harassment muckiness and legal intrigue, then you are in for a big disappointment. I know, because I was one of the paying patrons at the theatre back in 94! You sense that one of the makers got a bit carried awayÂ…

Yet the film still has much going for it if stripped of that expectation, not least that it packs a pile of tension in that last half hour and the finale is rather rewarding. I'd go as far to say I'm a fan of the film, but it's not the film I originally went to see! There's a trio of interesting and differing female characters at the front of the narrative, even if Moore's stair-master vixen isn't exactly developed beyond being a bitch, and the virtual reality sequences have an appealing charm about them. The cast are turning in good ones, with a notable shout out to Caroline Goodall who wisely unde

Michael Doulgas and Demi Moore head this fine piece of work based on Michael Crichtons' novel. Douglas is Tom Sanders, a typical business man working with a fairly normal company. He is dark horse in the running for promotion, until Meredith Johnson(Moore) arrives. Meredith is an old fling, and she hasn't forgotten the past. When a desperate attempt to open old wounds, or relive steamy times goes awry, Meredith is sickened by Toms' monogamy, and wants revenge! Director Barry Levinson creates a brilliant conflict, which seems to grow heavy with each scene. The entire cast is phenomenal. Moore and Douglas are perfect in their roles, but the main attraction for my eyes, was the quick, smart, catchy performance of Catherine Alvarez by Roma Maffia. Film keeps a strong interest for the whole time, only lacking in some possible slow moments. Part of why the film works so well is the fact that Levinson keeps it intellectual, dealing with adults, and the way they handle these situations. Sex is not a crutch to use for the main stars, who, at the time, were rather big. Instead, sex is portrayed as the key power in the situation. Catherine Alvarez states in the film "Sexual harassment is not about sex, it's about power. She has it, you don't". Pretty catchy way to portray sexual harassment. Technology is later brought in as a power to...but why should I say anything more? See the film for yourself.