Shattered Glass (2003)

Director:

Billy Ray

Writers (WGA):

Buzz Bissinger (article)
Billy Ray (written by)

Release Date:

26 December 2003 (Greece)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Read between the lies.

Plot:

The true story of a young journalist who fell from grace when it was found he had fabricated over half of his articles.

Plot Keywords:

Journalist | Writer | Stephen Glass | The New Republic | Washington D.C.

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 10 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Hayden Christensen	...	Stephen Glass
Peter Sarsgaard	...	Charles 'Chuck' Lane
Chloë Sevigny	...	Caitlin Avey
Rosario Dawson	...	Andy Fox
Melanie Lynskey	...	Amy Brand
Hank Azaria	...	Michael Kelly
Steve Zahn	...	Adam Penenberg
Mark Blum	...	Lewis Estridge
Simone-Elise Girard	...	Catarina Bannier
Chad Donella	...	David Bach
Jamie Elman	...	Aaron Bluth
Luke Kirby	...	Rob Gruen
Cas Anvar	...	Kambiz Foroohar
Linda Smith	...	Gloria (as Linda E. Smith)
Ted Kotcheff	...	Marty Peretz

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language, sexual references and brief drug use.

Runtime:

94 min | Canada:99 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Australia:89 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Netherlands:AL | France:U | Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39469) | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:S | Norway:A | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Company:

Lions Gate Films

Trivia:

When the original cut was screened before a test audience, many in the audience insisted that the movie couldn't be a true story because no real life magazine would have nearly all of its journalists in their early to mid twenties (when in fact this really was the case). This resulted in place cards added to the opening of the film which stated that the median age of journalists working for the New Republic was 26.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Chuck confronts Stephen in his office after realizing that Stephen's brother was the voice of George Sims. An expletive describing the voice mail was dubbed over to preserve the film's PG-13 rating.

Quotes:

Stephen Glass: I don't know what you're talking about, okay. Those are all real people.
Chuck Lane: They are?
Stephen Glass: Yeah.
Chuck Lane: Look at me... and say that again.
Stephen Glass: (beat) Those are all real people.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Saturday Night Live: Peter Sarsgaard/The Strokes (#31.11)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Chance for Love

Liar, liar

This is, without a doubt, one of the best films of the current season. It is a movie that makes one think about our values, and above all, how low will some people go to get their 15 minutes worth of fame by lying, cheating and taking down the same institutions they are trying to break into.

The idea of this picture is based on actual facts, so there is nothing fabricated in it, as we are presented an ambitious man working his way up the editorial ladder. Stephen Glass, is such a person. This is a very intelligent individual who goes to extremes to write fiction and make the reader believe that what he is reading is fact. Heaven help us from the Stephen Glasses of the world.

Stephen Glass was the perfect person to be hired by the New Republic, a magazine for the elite. It is a magazine that prides itself in only running text and no pictures. Well, it would have helped the publication to have demanded photographic proof from Mr. Glass, as the receptionist clearly points out at the end.

The cast assembled by director Billy Ray for this film is flawless. The work of Hayden Christensen as Stephen Glass, and Peter Sarsgaard as Jack Lane are brilliant. This was an inspired choice as both bring to the film the right tone, complementing one another. These actors will go far, no doubt.

The ensemble cast is also very effective. Chloe Sevigny, Rosario Dawson, Hank Azaria and Steve Zahn make you believe they are the people they are supposedly playing, which, in itself, is no small accomplishment.