Disclosure

Premise: Michael Douglas thinks he's getting a promotion, but Donald Sutherland brings in Demi Moore to take the position instead. She sexually harasses Douglas, an ex-lover, then accuses him of sexual harassment. Douglas beings to uncover a plot to force him out of the business.

Warning! My critique will include a spoiler today, so I advise you to avoid it if it will upset you to know what happens in the movie.

Reading the premise, you'd think this movie sound pretty promising. You've got Douglas, Sutherland, and Moore, all seasoned professionals with time-tested box office appeal. And then you are all, a man accusing a woman of sexual harassment? Sweet rubies, could this be any more exciting?

Yes, yes it could. Because this movie falls flat on its face. Sure, there are some fun little twists in there; I won't deny it. Nonetheless, the movie is bizarrely boring. In the scenes where Douglas and Moore present their sides of the story to a mediator, both lie. I mean, Moore's character makes up a convoluted story, but Douglas lies, too! What? Why would he bother doing that? To express that he is in some way culpable? Forget that!

I know you could argue that we live in a world full of shades of grey. Things aren't always black and white, you might say. So?! is my reply. When is comes to sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape, things are very black and white. I realize that some may have a different interpretation of events (i.e. violator v. victim), but the fact remains that we have little recourse but to trust the victim.

Overall, Disclosure is a disappointment. The best part in it occurs when another woman gets promoted after Moore is fired. She, unlike Moore or Douglas, is promoted on the merit of her achievements and her seniority. Good for her. If only we could say the same thing was consistently true in the workplace today.