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Movie
Review: Shattered Glass, by Greg Tingle
`Shattered
Glass' explores the life, lies and times of a young,
ambitious writer / editor, Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen),
who got caught up more with fiction, rather than fact.
For
those familiar with the journalism profession, we
know it wasn't the first time, nor will it be the
last, when lies, fabrications and "sexed up"
accounts of events, don't get in the way of a good
story - in this case for the respected political magazine,
The New Republic.
Many
of us know of things that happen in business, that
shouldn't , but "the news" and "respected"
magazines should be trusted sources right? Apparently,
not always!
America,
and indeed the world are still not over the Jayson
Blair (New York Times) plagiarism sandal and the interesting
marking system that was employed at Newcastle University,
Australia, both of which reached a crescendo last
year. Heck, even this writer, and others in his own
lecture room encountered stealing of ideas and stories
at the local TAFE college, not only by newspapers,
but by teachers no less!
Media
Man Australia's, experience has shown that it is indeed
most unwise to trust everything you read in the newspapers,
in fact, to take it further, it is unwise to believe
much of what you hear, even from "respected"
news sources! From "current affairs" programs,
to "product placement" masquerading as "news",
the evidence is everywhere. It wouldn't be surprising
to hear that this very movie adds to the further decline
of world newspaper sales, and it won't just be the
online news sector that hurts them.
Speaking
of online, that's what sees Glass become unstuck.
The first real danger to Stephen Glass' seemingly
impeccable record is when Adam Penenberg (Steve Zahn),
who as a writer for Forbes Digital Tool, does some
all important follow up and fact checking. Penenberg's
work results in not a trace of any of Glass's "talent"
even existing. When he calls TNR, his query hits the
desk of Charles Lane (Peter Sarsgaard), the magazine's
new editor. This is where the real big story begins.
Are
journalists and newspaper writers perfect? No, and
they are not expected to be. Could they do better?
This movie answers the question.
Even
the toughest critics will appreciate the powerful
performances and production values that this move
projects.
It's
one of those movies that words can't do justice to
even though 'Shattered Glass' is about the literary
world, and those opinionated types who work in it.
If
you have ever wondered what working for a newspaper
could be like, or what is real news, and what "is
just a little hard to believe" (if the tabloids
still have you guessing), this is just the movie for
you. Journalists and editors will relate to this film
better than most, however the mainstream appeal is
there for those that enjoy to read between the lines,
or is that, to read between the lies!
Read
version 2
Cast:
Hayden Christensen, Peter Sarsgaard, Chloë Sevigny,
Steve Zahn, Melanie Lynskey, Hank Azaria, Rosario
Dawson
Director: Billy Ray
Producers: Craig Baumgarten, Marc Butan, Tove Christensen,
Gaye Hirsch, Adam Merims
Screenplay: Billy Ray, based on the article by H.G.
Bissinger
Cinematography: Mandy Walker
Music: Mychael Danna
U.S. Distributor: Lions Gate Films
Links:
Official
websites
Shattered
Glass official website
Movie
Trailers
Shattered
Glass - Low Res
Shattered
Glass - High Res
Articles
Is
journalistic plagiarism out of control? by Greg Tingle
Movie
Makers and Movie Stars, by Greg Tingle
Teena
Tingle: Star On The Horizon
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