October 2003
Shattered Glass

Reviewed by Edgar Arce
Shattered Glass
Distributor: Lions Gate Films
Directed by: Billy Ray
Producers: Craig Baumgarten, Marc Butan, Tove Christensen, Gaye Hirsch, & Adam Merims
Screenwriter: Billy Ray, based on an article by Buzz Bissinger
Cinematographer: Mandy Walker
Composer: Mychael Danna
Cast: Hayden Christensen, Peter Sarsgaard, , Cloe Sevigny, Melanie Linskey, Steve Zahn, Hank Azaria, Rosario Dawson, Luke Kirbey, Jamie Elfman, Mark Blum, Chad Donella, Russel Yuen, and Cas Anvar.
     

 

 

Hayden Christensen stars as Stephen Glass, a staff writer for the respected current events and policy magazine The New Republic and a freelance feature writer for publications such as Rolling Stone Magazine, Harper’s and George. By the mid 90’s, Glass was the most sought after journalist in Washington, but a bizarre chain of events began happening that would forever change him.

Shattered Glass is a superbly written movie. As soon as the opening scene plays out, you are immediately drawn to the character, Stephen Glass, much the same way all of the other characters in the movie are. You find out that Glass has a talent for telling stories. He has a problem though with knowing where reality ends and fantasy begins. I loved the relationship Glass has with his editor in the beginning of the movie, played by Hank Azaria, (Mad About You, America’s Sweethearts).

Peter Sarsgaard (K-19: The Widowmaker, The Salton Sea) is great in this film. If it hasn’t happened yet, he is going to be a big star after this one. Peter plays Chuck Lane, and is also a journalist at the New Republic with Stephen Glass, and doesn’t seem to be a fan of Glass, which director Billy Ray does a great job of setting up for the events that occur later in the film. Chuck (Peter Sarsgaard) Lane, from the beginning is a bit more suspicious of Glass when he pitches his stories every week at work, and is almost cold in his response to what he thinks about them. After some favorable circumstances occur, Chuck is now given the job of editor of the New Republic. The timing for this job advancement is just right for Chuck, because it is under his watch that Glass writes his most famous story and yet most infamous one as well.

Shattered Glass boasts a colorful supporting cast of actors, Chloe Sevigny, (Dogville, Party Monster), Melanie Lynskey, (Sweet Home Alabama), Steve Zahn, (The Wonders) and Rosario Dawson (The Rundown).
I don’t want to say anymore than I already have but this movie is fun. Director Billy Ray, (Hart’s War, Volcano), does a fine job directing, but shines like gold as a writer. His screen play of Buzz Bissinger’s article is awesome. Once the movie unfolds and you are told what happened and how, it’s amazing to think all this could have happened with so many people poking and prodding through everyone’s writings when going through the editing process which is nicely explained by Billy Ray. Although this movie won’t be a blockbuster, it’s very entertaining, intriguing, and smart. I say go catch a matinee showing of this movie, and you’ll feel good about it.