Disclosure (released in theaters on December 9, 1994) is based on the controversial best-selling novel by Michael Crichton and directed by Barry Levinson. Set in the fast-paced, high-tech world of a major Seattle computer firm, DigiCom, the film stars Michael Douglas as Tom Sanders, a company vice president expecting a promotion to run the new high-tech division.
Instead of the promotion, Sanders is stunned to learn the job has gone to Meredith Johnson (Demi Moore), his former lover and a fiercely ambitious executive from the company’s New York office.
Later that evening, Meredith calls Sanders to her office for what he believes is a professional meeting. It quickly devolves into a forceful, aggressive sexual encounter, which Sanders resists and ultimately flees.
When Sanders reports the incident to his friend and supervisor, Bob Garvin (Donald Sutherland), he finds the company immediately closing ranks to protect the powerful Meredith. To avoid scandal, Sanders is accused of sexually harassing her.
Supported only by his lawyer, Catherine Alvarez (Roma Maffia), and his wife, Susan (Caroline Goodall), Sanders files a lawsuit against the company, forcing him into a complex legal and corporate battle.
Meanwhile, he is secretly being sabotaged at work, desperately trying to protect the new virtual reality technology project he developed while unraveling a major corporate merger conspiracy tied to Meredith’s promotion.
Dennis Miller appears as Sanders’ co-worker, a professional consultant, and Dylan Baker plays a shady attorney for DigiCom.
The pairing of Douglas, a veteran of ’90s thrillers, and Moore as the ice-cold antagonist provides compelling dramatic friction.
Michael Douglas and Demi Moore in Disclosure (Photo/Warner Bros.)
Levinson injects the corporate espionage plot with style, most notably through the use of cutting-edge (for the time) virtual reality technology, which heightens the sense of futuristic intrigue and paranoia—a signature element of Crichton’s work.
Reception for Disclosure
Disclosure grossed $10.1 million on its opening weekend, finishing No. 1 at the box office ahead of The Santa Clause ($8.9 million) and Drop Zone ($6.1 million).
The film grossed $214 million worldwide.
Legacy
Disclosure generated significant public debate upon its release for reversing the gender roles in a high-profile sexual harassment case and while the film was a major box-office hit, its legacy is often viewed through the lens of its sensational subject matter.
The film’s primary strength is its tense, psychological thriller framework, effectively exploring the themes of corporate power, technological vulnerability, and the ambiguity of sexual politics in the workplace.
It’s remembered for its bold exploration of gender dynamics in the workplace and for popularizing the legal and ethical complexities surrounding sexual harassment.
Disclosure remains a gripping, if provocative, techno-thriller that successfully translated Crichton’s compelling mix of technological danger and contemporary social commentary to the big screen.
