Taking you into the craft of journalism, plucking you from the audience and dropping you into this modern world. Letting you witness the unraveling of the truth from a real fake is what's at hand in the compelling and riveting drama (not to mention true story), Shattered Glass.
We are led into the business of The New Republic, a magazine run out of Washington DC, and is noted for having the title of, "What Air Force One reads." From here we meet Stephen Glass, a young, hotshot writer who can win anyone over with his charm and innocent sensibilities. But he also has a knack for churning out incredible stories and when an internet-journal discovers that one of his stories may have been completely made up, he becomes the subject of intense controversy.
Known best for his performance (or lack thereof) as Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels, Hayden Christensen shows off his ability, portraying Glass as subtle yet dangerous with a growing anger shielded behind his big glasses. Also at hand is The New Republic's just hired editor, Chuck Lane, Glass's former rival, played very effectively by Peter Sarsgaard. In fact, Sarsgaard would own the movie if Christensen didn't make Glass such a likeable character, even as he is eventually revealed for what he truly is. This makes it incredibly difficult to figure out which character one should empathize with, and it becomes a test of morals for the viewer.
Shattered Glass is not a cliched movie that relies on twists and action, but rather a film that showcases how a person can change, and the ethics that change them. The director, Billy Ray, lets things transpire (all in a single week) calmly, letting each small event pile on to increase the suspense.
As the credits roll, we are witness to the events following these characters, and from here we realize how timely this movie actually is. With the recent events surrounding Jayson Blair, the New York Times reporter fired after faking various stories, Shattered Glass feels very much like a documentary rather than a movie.
