Shattered Glass (PG-13)
Hayden Christensen delivers a compelling performance in Shattered Glass, a true story from the director of State of Play, Billy Ray.
Imagine being a journalist for one of the best magazines in the country. Now, imagine if one of your fellow journalists lies about one of the most important articles of his career. Hayden Christensen does just that in Shattered Glass, a surprising movie I saw this weekend. Christensen plays Stephen Glass, a journalist for the New Republic, a magazine that is well respected and read by millions of people every week. Stephen has just graduated from high school, and is a prodigy in the field of journalism. His co workers love him, as well as his great stories. But when one of his stories is suspected of being false by a rival journalist from an online magazine (played by Steve Zahn), his editor (played reasonably well by Peter Sarsgard) investigates its credibility.
Throughout the film, the viewer has no idea whether or not Stephen is telling the truth in his article, or if he cooked it all up. First of all, this film could have very easily fallen into a mystery-themed plot, but instead, writer-director Billy Ray takes us inside the mind of Stephen Glass. We see what he remembers or says he did, and are almost forced to believe it because we respect the young journalist. Most of the respect I had for him was thanks to Hayden Christensen’s performance as a normal person with feelings and, most of all, a personality. Hayden gives us a reason to believe what he tells his editor, and never suspect anything phony about him. Shattered Glass is a true story about real person, writing for a real paper, and since I didn’t know that when I popped this into the DVD player, I feel a bit ignorant saying this was a good ‘story’.
Maybe most people know the ending already, and won’t be surprised at all by the plot and premise; but I promise that this movie, if not for the story, will make you think. A lot. You won’t know what to think exactly until the very end, which is what everyone wants in a good thriller: uncertainty.
9 fake stories out of 10
Shattered Glass is rated PG-13 for language, sexual references and brief drug use.
I saw this at a local art indie house when it first came out and agree with your review. Too bad those who condemn Hayden and his acting don’t branch out themselves and see Shattered Glass. He can deliver and does so here.
Yeah, I know. I was kind of turned off to his acting after I saw Attack of the Clones a few years ago. He was just so whiny and arrogant that it was hard for me to take him seriously. Also, he delivered a fairly poor performance in Jumper back in 08. But I was practically forced to forgive him after I saw this movie. I’m curious how he will do in New York, I Love You. He’s much more compelling as a realistic character than a teleporting playboy or a Padawon.
Thanks for your comment!
Cool blog, Jason. Your reviews are outstanding! It sounds just like anything else you’d read–even better. You should write more! Your one on the Dark Knight was really good. Even though I’m not a fan of the movie, I agree with you–the joker was great. Actually, he’s one of my all time favorite characters. And, yeah, whatever her name is, the girl was pretty unconvincing. (I should have put this comment on your other, Dark Knight, post). You’re a good writer!
Hey, thanks for even reading it, Emily! I have a hard time picking movies to review, because it’s easy to right good things about good movies.
I have yet to find a bad movie that I actually ‘want’ to write about. haha.
Thanks again!
Yeah, Lol! I’m sure I could find you a few. But most of them you probably wouldn’t want to waste your time on. How about Wall-E?
I watched some of Wall-E few months ago. I walked away from it. Well, I was at Nebraska Furniture mart, but still, I saw all I needed to to know it stinks! Just kidding. I should give it a chance. My next movie review will either be 300 or District 9. I love both of ‘em but I need to see them again to refresh my memory. Or i could review a crummy British movie……..Have any in mind?
But a awful movie that’s in the works (in my head) to review is X-Men Origins: Wolverine. It’s new, it cost millions of dollars to make, and it was one of the dumbest, worst acted (produced) movies I’ve seen in a long, long time.
How about trying a crack at a TV series…Such as Lost or The Office…But you can’t have any spoilers!
okay! Great!
But Jason you should definitely do a TV series! Give like a view of how the producers have grown or how the acting has gotten better or something like that!
Please try your hand at a TV series!
HHmmm. I can definitely see an office review in my future. It would be easier to do a review of a brand new series, you know what I mean? Reviewing the first few episodes would be easier than reviewing an entire five or six season long show. With Lost, the plot points and turns in premise would be overwhelmingly difficult to write without spoilers.
Thanks for your comment!
I agree with Emily…totally do the Wall-E thing. Next maybe you should do March of the Penguins???? Cool blog Jason!!
Peach
Well, I want to know about the “new” Hobbit movie that I’ve been hearing about forever! Is there really one? All I could find were homemade trailers. I’m starting to think it’s all been a lie. Can you clear the fog, Jason?