Synopsis:
Disclosure is an American drama-thriller released in 1994 and directed by Barry Levinson. The drama is based on a novel written by Michael Crichton which went on to become a bestseller. The plot encompasses a novelmatic blend of advancements in technology and a high-pressure corporate workplace, with an individual technique on breathing a life of personal salvation. The fiction is based somewhere during the 90s in the rapidly growing tech industry. The plot revolves around Tom Sanders, and his unexpected and crucial professional crisis as a high-ranking executive in a technology giant, DigiCom.
Tom Sanders is a liked and a successful middle manager with many years of tenure in DigiCom. Merchand Suren, a former collegue of Tom’s with whom he shares some history, brings some bewilderment to Tom when she gets promoted to vice president of the CD-ROM division. The promotion is a result of the company linking itself with new alliances. The deal in turn helps Merchand Suren as she is in charge of leading the CD-ROM division. The friction in the promotion is business and personal which is bound to disrupt Tom’s career.
While trying to get used to the new structure, Tom’s life gets disrupted when a meeting with Meredith is the cause of a huge misinterpretation. The next day, Tom is the subject of a complaint that’s been filed. Tom is put in a position where he might be fired and lose his name, and it is in this situation that he needs to defend himself, while remaining polished and collected. Tom does not admit that he did anything wrong, and chooses to pursue the issue to the in-house legal mediation that the company has set up.
In the movie, Tom is depicted as a family oriented person, with a strong sense of ethics, which is quite ironic considering the situation he is in. Cleaving the, unsullied name, is not something he does just for himself. It is something that he does for his family and the generations to come as well. As the case progresses, he begins to discover more important aspects of the company and the true reasons motivating Meredith. Tom, with the assistance of his attorney, starts to construct a bigger framework of what is not only going to be a frightening chapter in the future of his life, but in the history of DigiCom as well.
The company’s virtual reality system which allows users to access the classified files within the company’s secure server system provides a novel dimension to the plot. In one of the scenes, Tom utilizes the virtual reality system to files which eventually provides him insights to the larger phenomenon he is trying to decode.
The plot of the movie gradually transforms. Instead of focusing on the interpersonal components of tension, the plot now also comments on the ethics of the company’s business. Tom’s tenacity and attention to details also play an important role in him being able to provide solid proof which in turn allows him to resolve the ongoing issues with the company’s reputation. While the company is suffering from negative public image, and people are still pretending to work on the movie, Tom understands the situation and decides to get on the high road instead, resolving the issues and restoring the company’s image.
Cast & Crew:
The movie is well-cast with a powerful ensemble. Both lead stars are incredibly well known, and both are supported by a robust cast and an experienced production team.
Playing the character of Tom Sanders is Michael Douglas. Douglas is a prolific Corporate Thriller actor which is also the genre of this movie. He portrayed Tom’s character with great skill and elucidated the man Tom is – a man of ambition driving to the ends of the earth and is also balancing some personal morals in a highly pressurized man. Tom Sanders in this role lost some battles while winning the war in the context of the movie and because of this, Douglas brought him to life in a manner which everyone would regard him a real person.
In this movie as in life usually, every war has a cause. This cause for this movie is given life by the new overachiever executive, ‘Meredith Johnson’ played by Demi Moore. She played the role of a new executive and her performance gave the character of Meredith a new vibe because according to the character, she is highly intelligent, pretty, and loves a good strategy.
Due to the presence of Donald Sutherland, the role of the witty and intelligent DigiCom CEO Bob Garvin, is not at all difficult to fill. He is one of the last few people in the Corporate World which has a ‘people first’ approach’ and this role is perfect for him. Garvin has to face a lot of issues in the growing field of technology and also to fulfil the expectations of people that ‘a good person’ gets from everyone.
The role of ‘Susan Sanders’, the daughter which each one of us wishes to have is played by Roger Goodell. She is not only good, but also the wife of the main character, Tom. Roger Goodell skillfully plays the character of the caring wife with emotional realism and also the wife to Tom Sanders, supporting him every time and loving him the most which is. This character brings a new angle to the movie. In the time of ‘professional crisis’ as Mrs. Tom Sanders, their wife is, she shapes Tom’s character a lot.
Roma Maffia also deserves some appreciation for the role of the intelligent and brave investigator in the company, Catherine Alvarez. She strikes the perfect balance of being a reserve character but also the one leading the role of ‘mediator’. This character is one of the most vital one. She looks into the investigation with grace and in a highly balanced manner of in-thinking which is what the situation demands.
Barry Levinson, the director of the film, is an Academy Award winner for his direction of Rain Man as well as for Good Morning Vietnam. Levinson bestows upon Disclosure a tempered yet purposeful tone, focusing on character development and ethical dilemmas rather than outright sensationalism. He directs his film to build tension via dialogue, physicality, and ambiance rather than through any action sequences.
Paul Attanasio’s screenplay is faithful to Crichton’s novel, although he does compress some of the intricate subplots for the sake of pacing. Attanasio’s excellently crafted dialog is succinct and pointed, permitting the film to breach subjects of corporate responsibility, trust, and the consequences of technology brought upon the workplace.
The film’s score is composed by the emblematic Ennio Morricone, recognized for bipolarity in his repertoire. He skillfully infuses the film with ambiance, extending the emotional fabric by enhancing the suspense and introspective interlude.
As per IMDb, Disclosure has a rating of approximately 6.3/10 which substantiates the film has received both positive and mediocre reviews. When the movie came out, it fue d quite a bit a chatter, thanks to some opportune subject and in light of the calibar of the actors. While some reviews lauded it for its storytelling and the suspense it was woven in, many peers considered it as rather controversial owing to the themes it attempted to grapple with.
As the years have gone by, Disclosure has been acknowledged for its seemingly prescient treatment of the interplay between politics and power, as well as between gender and corporate power. The film resonates with its audience those who advocate for ethics and accountability, the emphasis on equity and justice, especially in a corporate milieu is a highlight many admire.
The depiction of the office that the audience noticed on screen was a rather accurate artifact of the setting, much like the legal processes, and the other struggles which happen in the realm of the boardroom and not the courtroom. Early use of virtual reality as a narrative device has been seen as particularly ingenious, as it points towards the future whereby the information and the corporate control would deeply intertwine.
Michael Douglas and Demi Moore both received awards for Acting. Douglas received special praise for his role depicting an emotionally even-tempered and principled individual under extreme pressure. Moore was noted for her character’s contribution to the multi-faceted depiction of ambition and the intricacies of high-pressure leadership positions.
Disclosure certainly is not the most celebrated, however, it does rank as one of the more memorable corporate drama films. Even after the passage of decades, the themes of trust, reputation, and ethical challenges of the digital era remain relevant.Conclusion:
Disclosure is a complex film that brings to light the value of truth, integrity, and staying power in the corporate world, against the backdrop of corporate America. The film relies mostly on the audience’s introspection on the power hierarchies of modern organizations and the need to act upon the challenges of the corporate world. The film also sheds light on the provocative issues; concerning the relationships of the workplace, responsibility of the professionals and the respect toward themselves. The film brings to light the need of the hour, dialogue. As a character, Disclosure still remains unmoved and thus continues to act as a catalyst to stir debate about the essence of self valor in the modern world, justice, and democracy as well as other genre suspense themes.
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