Rating: 
Summary: "Read between the lies"
Review: "Shattered Glass" is the unbelievable true story of Stephen Glass; a rising young star at "The New Republic" magazine in the late 1990's who's abrupt downfall is almost identical to that of Jayson Blair. Consider the similarities between the two men's stories, both were successful young journalists at famous news publications (Blair, incase you didn't already know, worked at the Old Gray Lady, "The New York Times") until it was found that they both had concocted most of their most popular news stories. In light of the Blair scandal, "Shattered Glass" is even more fascinating for audiences to watch. Aside from its subject matter, "Shattered Glass" is a wonderful film in its own right. The script is quick and snappy, the acting stellar, and the film itself is remarkably suspenseful considering we already know how it's going to end before even setting foot in the theater. I was surprised to find myself so deeply involved in this film and so concerned for Stephen Glass. Audiences will either sympathize with Glass, as I did, and understand that it was the pressures of journalism that drove him to lie or they will find him to be repulsive liar. I find it interesting that the filmmakers seem undecided on whether or not they have sympathy for Glass and thus leave Glass's morality for us to judge. While I sympathized with Glass, my father took an entirely opposite stance. I love it when a film strikes up a bit of debate! Hayden Christensen nailed this role. For those of you out there left with a bad impression of Christensen after the "Star Wars" debacle, fear not, he more than proves himself in this film. One might think his portrayal of Glass is overdone; the puppy dog earnestness, the nauseating sweetness, the impeccable manners; it all seems a bit much. However, that is what Glass was/is really like. Interviews upon interviews with Glass's coworkers and the man himself show this. I admire Christensen for his ability to portray such an "over-the-top" character.
Rating: 
Summary: Anakin's best performance...
Review: In the novel Wonder Boys, Grady Tripp points out that the best liars stick to their stories even after they've been found out. Stephen Glass - the hero/villain of Shattered Glass - is proof of this. This is Hayden Christensens's best performance so far. Watching him, you get the feeling you can't believe ANYTHING he says. As his plans unravel and his editor catches onto his lies, Christensen still behaves if he's telling the absolute truth. Like a good journalist, he even supplies minor details to give credibility. This is a very good movie about journalism. The major fault is that Glass is always a cipher to us. We only see lies so we can't know what really makes him tick. Glass is a real character and we are informed that he is now a lawyer who has published an autobiographical novel about his exploits. In this movie, Glass is reduced to tears as his journalistic career crashes down around him. I suspect that, as soon as no one was looking, the tears were replaced with a sarcastic smile.
Rating:
Summary: captivating true story
Review: Stephen Glass is a young, celebrated writer for The New Republic, the "in-flight magazine of Air Force One". You might work long hours for little pay, but your work is read by people in power and you just might win a Pulitizer. Particularly when what you write is embellished a little .. or a lot ... or entirely .... It is 1998 and Glass is in the midst of gettingcaught. How much of it is true, and how much of it does he believe is true? This is a genius who borders on being disturbed. Hayden Christensen turns in a great performance as the title character.
Rating:
Summary: THOSE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES...
Review: This is a superb directorial debut by Billy Ray, who also wrote the script for this engrossing film. It tells the true story of how one journalist, Stephen Glass (Hayden Christiansen), a star journalist for the self-styled, in-flight magazine for Air Force One, "The New Republic", bamboozled his editors for years with bogus stories. This was to have a devastating impact on a magazine that was well-respected in the political community. The film is a riveting study of a pathological liar who had the need to be the center of attention. For years, Stephen Glass had regaled his colleagues with journalistic feats, only to have them eventually discover that they were mere mumbo jumbo, as few of them had little more than a grain of truth to them. Stephen Glass is portrayed as a slightly obnoxious, self-deprecating character, who binds his colleagues to him through his smarmy, somewhat ingratiating. personality. Michael Kelly (Hank Azaria) is the first editor of "The New Republic" with whom Stephen Glass worked. When Kelly finds something questionable in one of the stories submitted by Glass, Stephen is able to explain it away, and the incident is glossed over. When Kelly is fired by the publisher, Chuck Lane (Peter Sarsgaard) takes over under difficult circumstances, as the staff is loyal to Kelly and resentful of Lane. Still, Lane perseveres, occasionally crossing swords with Stephen Glass. All comes to a head when a reporter from another publication questions the veracity of one of Stephen's stories. An inside investigation by an anguished and angry Chuck Lane clearly shows that Stephen's story is not fact based but, rather, an elaborate deceit, false from beginning to end. Stephen's journalistic house of cards comes tumbling down around him, rocking the integrity of The New Republic. Chuck Lane is placed in the difficult position of exposing the full breadth of Stephen's journalistic perfidy, which ended up being widespread. The cast of the film is excellent overall, though I did find that Hayden Christiansen's portrayal of Stephen Glass paints him as too obvious a liar. I found it a tad difficult to believe that his colleagues gave him as much credence as they did. Chloe Sevigny contributes a fine performance as fellow journalist, Caitlin Avey, who was one of Stephen's bamboozled friends. Hank Azaria gives a fine portrayal of popular editor Michael Kelly, which shows that he can handle serious dramatic roles as adeptly as he handles comedic ones. The stand out performance, however, is that of Peter Sarsgaard, whose understated, poignant portrayal of Kelly's replacement, the beleaguered, unpopular Chuck Lane, is sensitive yet very powerful and complex. The DVD has first class audio and visuals, as well as an excellent audio commentary by both the director and Chuck Lane. It also has a must see 60 Minutes interview with Stephen Glass, which took place about five years after the events in the film. It is well worth seeing. All in all, this is an outstanding film that will keep the viewer riveted to the screen. It is one that is well worth having in one's personal film collection. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: A Great Story With Strong Performances.
Review: I bought this DVD because of the reviews on this site. You all seemed to like it so much, plus I love Hayden Christensen, I figured I could'nt go wrong with getting it. And I'm happy to say you were all right. The thing that sticks out about this movie are the performances. Hayden is brilliant as Stephen Glass, his mannerisms were so in character. He's one of the greatest new actors out today. Peter Sarsgarrd's performance was so subtle, yet so honest and poignant, I was amazed at what a great actor he's become. Also Cloe Sevigny and Hank Azaria give great, natural performances that just make this movie one of the best in years.
If you have'nt seen this movie, you should.
Rating:
Summary: The Fourth Estate a Glass House?
Review: In 1999, "The New Republic" magazine that so prided itself on insightful political and social commentary was plunged into scandal when it was discovered that one of the magazine's star reporters, Stephen Glass, had fabricated many of his stories. "Shattered Glass" is the story of Stephen Glass' fall from bright young star to pariah of the journalistic community. Hayden Christensen plays Glass, whose self-deprecating, obnoxiously ingratiating manner somehow blinds his co-workers to his machinations, all while he makes self-righteous speeches about journalistic integrity. Christensen's portrayal of Glass is convincing enough to paint the man as a real character, but I hope Glass was a better liar in reality than he is in this film, because it left me dumbfounded that anyone would have ever believed a word he said. The film's stand-out performance is Peter Sarsgaard's portrayal of "The New Republic" editor, Chuck Lane, under whose authority Stephen Glass was exposed and sent packing. Chloe Sevigny and Hank Azaria also give memorable performances as fellow journalist Caitlin Avey and Michael Kelly, who was the magazine's editor before Chuck Lane, respectively. Stephen Glass was a pathological liar and a con artist, but far more interesting than Glass are the holes in journalism's fact-checking systems that his success revealed and the willingness of a bunch of the nation's supposedly bright up-and-coming journalists to believe things that were so obviously preposterous. Director Billy Ray has done an admirable job of dramatizing this true story with an impressive script which he wrote himself, based on an article by H. G. Bissinger. "Shattered Glass" is an interesting look at integrity, gullibility, and delusion in those who write the news and those who read it. And Peter Sarsgaard's performance is one of the best of 2003. The DVD: There aren't many bonus features, but what's there is excellent. There is a "60 Minutes" interview with the real Stephen Glass in which he recounts how and why he started fabricating new stories. There is also an audio commentary by director Billy Ray and the real Chuck Lane, the editor who discovered the extent of Stephen Glass' deception. This is one of the best audio commentaries I've heard on a film. Ray and Lane are both articulate and engaging. The commentary doesn't meander or have awkward silences. Lane contributes a lot of additional information on Glass and the workings of "The New Republic". Ray talks about filming, editing, and story-telling decisions. Sitting through the film a second time to listen to the commentary won't bore you to tears. If Stephen Glass' story interests you at all, I highly recommend both the commentary and the "60 Minutes" interview.
Rating: 
Summary: Glass Houses--Easy To Fall
Review: Before the Jayson Blair scandal rocked The New York Times and had journalists taking a hard look at how they do their work...It happened once before. As a film, Shattered Glass, is a surprise. I use that word for two reasons, the first, has to with the fact that it marks a directorial debut, and usually those aren't as good as this was. The second reason is the performance of Hayden Christensen in the film. Let's face facts after all, who, based on his work in the Star Wars prequels and other roles, hadn't proved he had any acting chops yet. He is quite good here. Journalist Stephen Glass, (Christensen) is a twenty-something whiz kid who quickly rose from a minor writing post in Washington, to a feature writer for such publications as Rolling Stone and the New Republic. His boss at The New Republic, Chuck Lane (Peter Sarsgaard) was particularly impressed with Glass. By the mid-90s, his stature took off and his articles had turned him into one of the most sought-after young journalists in Washington. All of that acclaim is put to the test, when another reporter, Adam Penenberg (Steve Zahn), while writing a follow up to one of Glass's stories, discovers a stunning secret. Director Billy Ray is someone you need to watch out for. The movie boasts a great cast, which also includes Chloë Sevigny as Caitlin Avey, a friend and ally to Glass, and Hank Azaria as Michael Kelly from the New Republic (Tragically Kelly died while covering the Iraq conflict in 2003). The drama seems very real and doesn't seem staged at all. Christensen is up to the task, especially, as the world around Glass starts to crumble--which as I say, will surprise you. The film is very impressive The audio commentary may not be listed as an extra on the DVD, but, it's worth a listen. Ray and real life former "New Republic" editor Chuck Lane, discuss the film and what it was like to be there as things were happening. You can also see a contoversial "60 Minutes" interview with the real Stephen Glass--that is also worth your time. The theatrical trailer tops off the bonus material, which goes along with trailers for two other films. Shattered Glass is a must see. I'm sure that, along with All The President's Men, it will become required viewing for any journalism student as well.
Rating:
Summary: Glass Half Empty.
Review: Brilliant portrayal of this total fabricator that duped The New Republic and others with his articles in the 90's. But the defining moment comes in the 60 MINUTES interview with the real Stephen Glass which is on the DVD as well. I wanted to reach through the screen and punch this man - what a piece of work. He looks right at the camera and continues to create this sense that he was not responsible for the stories that he made up and the damage he did. That he is a victim of ... ? Society, work, pressure - he keeps pushing the theme that he just wants to be loved/liked/forgiven. And he's pursuing a career in law. How apropos.
Rating:
Summary: a masterpiece of a movie and Christensen is shattering
Review: This movie was on my top ten list of the best movies of 2003. Stephen Glass(Hayden Christensen, Attack Of The Clones) was a trusted and talented editor, his boss Michael Kelly(Hank Azaria, The Simpsons) was fired and a co-worker named Chuck Lane(Peter Sarsgaard, Center Of The World) becomes the new man in charge. Glass turns in a piece called Hack Heaven in which Glass said he was at a hackers convention for Jukt Micronics. Then things start to get a little over the edge when two editors from Forbes (Steve Zahn, Daddy Day Care and Rosario Dawson, 25th Hour) find out that Glass is making up lies. Glass's boss Lane tries to digest all this in the most possible way and he figures out Glass' lies. Great movie with a great cast. This rings true to the till. Christensen and Sarsgaard snap adn crackle. also starring Chloe Sevigny(Kids, Party Monster). The DVD has a 60 seconds thing on Glass interviewing Glass and Chuck Lane which is pretty interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Storytelling
Review: Billy Ray`s directorial debut is a compelling and worthwile movie about today`s journalism and its search for "truth". Hayden Christensen plays Stephen Glass, a character based on a young journalist from the late nineties who became famous due to his original, compelling and addictive articles published in "The New Republic". Working as a freelancer in other magazines, Glass was one of the most sucessful professionals in the business. Problem is, most of his wonderful and witty stories were just a product of his imagination, working as good fiction but failing as proper news, since they weren`t real. "Shattered Glass" expertly portrays what it`s like to be a journalist in this day and age, offering an interesting scoop into the search for ambition and fame, the complex and at times relationships between team-mates or the idealism and search for "truth" against information as a an entertainment product. Billy Ray delivers a gripping mix of drama, thriller and documentary, and the performances are uniformely great. Hayden Christensen is convincing as the child-like, immature and insecure Stephen Glass, and Peter Sarsgaard shines shines as the editor Chuck Lane, one of the movie`s most compelling and complex characters. Chloe Sevigny, Steve Zahn and Rosario Dawson offer solid contributions as well. The movie has a few problems, though, since the personal life of the protagonist hasn`t much screen time and his relationship with family and friends is hardly covered. In the end, I didn`t quite understood why Glass acted and lied like that, since we don`t really know what drives him. Most of the other characters could be more three-dimensional, too, and the movie`s running time should be longer. Still, "Shattered Glass" is a recommended debut that manages to entertain while it raises some thought for though about today`s society and media. Not brilliant, but shiny enough glass.
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