Review of Shattered Glass (2003) by Dustin G — 12 Mar 2008

SHATTERED GLASS (2003).

Directed by Billy Ray.

Starring Hayden Christensen, Peter Sarsgaard, Hank AzariaIn 1998, Stephen Glass was the yougest writer at The New Republic, the paper of choice in Air Force One, an independent newspaper that mattered and had a good reputation. Glass was one of its finest writers but one of his article about a convention of hackers caught the attention of an online magazine. After a few verification they figured none of it was true. GLass kept denying it was a hoax but his editor didnt always beleive him until he found out that most of what he had written was cooked.Shattered Glass is a short film, only about an hour and half but there is a lot going on. Only dialogues to build the story. The way its crafted and unfold itself makes it fascinating. How that man was manipulative makes it frustrating. Its a pretty good piece of work about journalism, the best in recent years.Hayden Christensen, the Anakin Skywalker of the new generation, is good enough, but not great. I dont think he has whats needed to be a leading man. He is annoying. Appart from that, the rest of the cast is pretty good. Peter Sarsgaard gives a solid performance as the editor and Hank Azaria is pretty good as well as the former editor, and friend. Chloe Sevigny looks good but does nothing special except being there, just like Rosario Dawson and Steve Zahn is always enjoyable on screen.The film isnt particularly well directed, its quite conventional as a steadycam shot film. The screenplay isnt the best, the dialogues are pretty good but its no David Mamet stuff. Its simple the storyline that is enduring and the main character who is pretty much lost in his own lies and pride. Good film, I recommend.