AGW Entertainment reporter Lynn B. saw a new dramatic film

SHATTERED GLASS

Lion's Gate Pictures

If you have ever faked a term paper or homework assignment, you can identify on a much smaller scale, with former wonder boy magazine writer Stephen Glass, who was finally caught and fired after faking facts, sources and completely pulling stories out of thin air on 27 out of 41 pieces he wrote for the "New Republic" magazine and also other mags. Stephen is played in the new film Shattered Glass by Hayden Christensen. Looks like Anakin Skywalker turned to the dark side long before he became Darth Vader!

In 1998, cocky but neurotic young staff writer/reporter Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen) pitches creative and inspired story ideas first to by-the-book "New Republic" editor Michael Kelly (Hank Azaria) and later to his new editor Charles Lane (Peter Saarsgard). All his co-workers, including smitten editor Caitlin Avery (Chloe Sevigny) love his stories and support and respect the talented but emotional and fragile young writer.

Glass writes pieces for "Rolling Stone", "George" and "Harper's" and is courted to join the staffs of other magazines. He returns as a big hero to his high school journalism class to give students a pep talk especially after he writes a very popular article called "Hack Heaven" about a teen computer hacker who gets an agent to extort a big money package from a software company that had been one of the hacker's victims!

Glass's world starts to bleed ink and die when Adam Penenberg (Steve Zahn), who works for an internet magazine, is scolded for not breaking the story himself. Penenberg starts researching Glass's article and finds that it is chocked full of holes! His sources don't exist, etc. Glass tap-dances very deftly in denial of each accusation but they pile up until, finally, he is totally busted. To editor Lane's dismay, it is proven that Glass either completely or partially faked 21 out of 47 articles written for "The New Republic". He's fired.

In this film Stephen Glass says "Journalism is the art of recording people". Evidently, he also created a bunch of fake people to "record". This is an excellent film about journalistic responsibility and betrayed trust. The whole cast is excellent. Hank Azaria is very sympathetic as a trusting editor who believes in his protégé, Glass. Peter Saarsgard shines as the new insecure editor who finally busts him. Supporting cast members Chloe Sevigny and Melanie Lynskey are totally believable as female staff members who support Glass but struggle to stand out as individual writers. Quirky Steve Zahn is both funny and tenacious like a bulldog with a bone as the internet writer who keeps digging until he busts Glass. Best of all is Hayden Christensen who shows that, under an "actor's" director, he can tackle intricate, complicated characters with great skill. He is a snobby yet nervous and perfect Stephen Glass.

Another young reporter for the New York Times, Jayson Blair was also recently busted for faking stories. This movie is important and timely and a great warning for teens who plan to sail through school and later career on lies, "borrowed" facts and Cliff Notes. But, hey, it's not a boring "lesson". The film is suspenseful and involving as you sit on the edge of your seat wondering how this guy will get busted and..'geez, how will he get out of this one?' If you are a Hayden fan and want to see him play a role he can really get his teeth into, this is it. Very, very well done!

Rated: PG-13

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