Shattered Glass (2003)

WHAT IS THE TRUTH?
In the late 90's the journalistic world was shaken at it's foundation when it was revealed that a reporter for the much heralded THE NEW REPUBLIC was found to be creating fictional stories and presenting them as facts. It was a little known loophole in the journalistic process that led to this, the fact that fact checkers could check any facts presented but that those facts were taken from notes compiled by the journalist.

Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen) is a well liked and highly thought of writer. He takes everything into consideration when dealing with his colleagues, everything from their birthdays to their choice in soda. When he presents his stories for acceptance to the staff, his manner in presenting them gets them so enthused that he is encouraged to go on and follow up on his leads. But beneath that caring exterior is a man begging for acceptance.

When Glass' favored editor is fired and replaced by Charles `Chuck' Lane (Peter Sarsgaard), another member of the staff, Stephen begins to sow seeds of distrust. At the same time, he tries to make the new editor feel that he is part of the team.

Glass' world falls apart when an article he writes concerning computer hackers is combed over by the reporters at Forbes online. They are amazed that they could have missed a story this size and being to look into it. What they discover is that the computer software company mentioned doesn't exist, that the hacker talked about is not a real person and that the convention both met at never happened.

Presented with these facts, Chuck begins to do some checking of his own. He gets an answering machine when he calls the software company. He can't reach the hacker. And when worst comes to worst and he and Stephen drive to the hotel the convention was to have taken place at, there is no record of it. Glass' house of cards begins to crumble.

How this could have happened in the world of journalistic integrity is the focal point of the film, shared only with the self destruction of Stephen Glass. How a man could break down or be compelled to represent lies as truth, so much so to the point where he seems to begin to believe his own falsehoods, makes for interesting viewing with a touch of emotion as you feel for this character.

Based on a true story, the film offers the fact that not only did Glass fabricate this story but many others as well. And in the end the magazine, the journalistic community is held in high esteem because they chose to do something about it rather than sweep it under the carpet. While Glass is offered as a sympathetic character, it is Lane that is presented as a hero to the journalistic community.

Well made, well paced and well acted, this is a movie that students of journalism should be required to watch as much as they are ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN. While that movie showed them a glimpse of the fame that could be theirs, this one shows the pitfalls that lie ahead as well.

Surprisingly good movie
I didn't originally intend to watch this movie but a friend rented and brought it over for us to watch so I felt obligated. I'm glad I did. The movie was surprisingly good. I'm not a big fan of Hayden Christensen, ever since seeing him in the second star wars film where he seemed like a whiny child. He's still a whiny child but, it fits in this film. I was so impressed with the film and how it claimed to be based on a true story that I checked it on the internet to see how much of it was. Surprisingly, the film is pretty close to accurate. I recommend this film for anyone who enjoys in depth dramas. Like I said, it is surprisingly good.

Surprisingly good movie
I didn't originally intend to watch this movie but a friend rented and brought it over for us to watch so I felt obligated. I'm glad I did. The movie was surprisingly good. I'm not a big fan of Hayden Christensen, ever since seeing him in the second star wars film where he seemed like a whiny child. He's still a whiny child but, it fits in this film. I was so impressed with the film and how it claimed to be based on a true story that I checked it on the internet to see how much of it was. Surprisingly, the film is pretty close to accurate. I recommend this film for anyone who enjoys in depth dramas. Like I said, it is surprisingly good.