Disclosure

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

Disclosure is a 1994 thriller film, directed by Barry Levinson. The main stars were Michael Douglas and Demi Moore.

Tom Sanders is a software executive who has a perfect life. That is until it is ruined upon the arrival of his former girlfriend, Meredith Johnson. Meredith happens to be his new boss and a lover from a long time ago. She decides its an opportunity to rekindle their sexual relationship and is rather aggressive about it. Since he considers himself happily married he refuses.

The following day, Meredith files charges of sexual harassment against him. Nobody believes in his innocence, neither his family, nor his colleagues. His only hope is his new attorney Catherine Alvarez (Roma Maffia), who specializes in sexual harassment cases where men are the victims. He has little problem of settling out of court. Only to learn the company has been looking for a scapegoat for some recent problems with the quality of their products. With all the attention to his name, it seems Tom has just volunteered for the job.

The film received mixed reviews at best, but was a box office hit. The film earned $214,015,089 in the worldwide market. About 83 millions came from the United States market, where it was the 13th most successful film of the year.

Tropes used in Disclosure include:
  • Betty and Veronica: Tom Sanders' wife and Meredith respectively.
  • Clear My Name: The basis of the plot.
  • Corrupt Corporate Executive
  • Media Research Failure: There was a massive outcry in the UK over the film, mainly because of the poster and the advertising slogan ("Sex is Power"). Several media outlets accused the film of being outright pornographic, and even called for it to be banned. In actual fact, there is no nudity of any sort in the film, and only a small handful of sex scenes.
  • Dogged Nice Guy: Tom Sanders sort of.
  • Double Standard Rape (Female on Male): Subverted. While no one believes Tom's claim that Meredith is the one who came onto him, her actions are never presented as "right" or "okay".
  • Femme Fatale
  • Positive Discrimination: The film tries to both subvert and lampshade this, but mostly ends up playing it straight.
  • Psycho Ex-Girlfriend: Meredith. Subverted in that while we're supposed to believe she's this, she actually has entirely different motives.
  • The Unfair Sex: The second half of the movie deals with this on behalf of both genders.
  • Yandere - Meredith appears to be this at one point, but like everything else, it's an act.