SHATTERED GLASS - drama

Director Billy Ray

Writer Billy Ray based on the article by Buzz Bissinger

Stars Hayden Christensen, Peter Sarsgaard, Chloë Sevigny, Melanie Lynskey, Steve Zahn, Hank Azaria, Rosario Dawson

This film is the true story of journalist Stephen Glass, the twenty something guy who quickly rose from a minor writing post in Washington, to a feature writer in such publications as Rolling Stone and the New Republic. By the mid 90s, Glass articles had turned him into one of the most sought after young journalists in Washington until a bizarre chain of events suddenly stopped his career dead in its tracks.

Shattered Glass is an excellent case study for journalism teachers, the official website comes complete with training tips. It's also a fascinating story in its own right for anyone interested in the world behind the headlines, or for anyone who works in an office (and is convinced that the geek at the next desk is a psycho). And while we do get to see that some journalists are good guys (and some could even be called human), what we don't see is exactly why Glass made up the tall tales in the first place, which leaves an essential question mark over the rest of an otherwise compelling film.