Submission

Chronicling a case of sexual impropriety from the perspective of a stuffy white male academic is hardly a fresh perspective, and although it’s timely, Submission feels more muddled than provocative.

The drama takes place on a posh New England college campus, where creative writing professor Ted (Stanley Tucci) is biding his time while struggling to finish the follow-up to his acclaimed debut novel.

His sardonic narration reflects his beleaguered attitude, although he’s happily married to a nurse (Kyra Sedgwick) and seems to enjoy knocking his students down a peg when they become too enthusiastic about their own manuscripts.

He feels differently about Angela (Addison Timlin), a seductive student who flirts and fawns over Ted, claiming to be a fan. He reciprocates by raving about her class project both in class and during private conversations that gradually become more personal and sexual.

Despite the red flags, including Angela’s checkered past and the imbalanced consequences, Ted becomes more drawn into their relationship. By the time he realizes he’s being manipulated, it’s too late.

The film provides a welcome leading role for Tucci, wearing a toupee and playing an intriguing character ultimately deserving of a more compelling movie. His subtle use of body language and facial expressions deepen the story’s inherent moral complexity. Timlin capably balances strength and vulnerability in her portrayal.

One early highlight is a tense dinner-party discussion about the interpretation of classic literature through a lens of contemporary feminism and political correctness. It’s enough to wish the rest of the dialogue would have contained the same sharpness and relevance.

The screenplay by director Richard Levine (Every Day), based on a satirical novel by Francine Prose, plays it safe and keeps its characters at an emotional distance in part because of narrative contrivances. The film can’t decide whether it wants to sympathize with its characters and their forbidden tryst or to condemn their obviously inappropriate behavior.

The attraction between Ted and Angela is based on a mutual appreciation for each other’s work, but the audience only feels the awkwardness instead of the affection. There should be more outrage, more compassion, more something — yet Submission can’t capitalize on its hot-button premise.

Rated R, 106 minutes.