Shattered Glass (2003)

The story of a young journalist who fell from grace when it was discovered he fabricated over half of his articles from the publication The New Republic magazine.

Director:

Billy Ray

Writers:

Buzz Bissinger (article) (as H.G. Bissinger), Billy Ray

Stars:

Hayden Christensen, Chloë Sevigny, Steve Zahn

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 11 wins & 27 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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-Élise 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

Storyline

This film tells the true story of fraudulent Washington, D.C. journalist Stephen Glass (Christensen), who rose to meteoric heights as a young writer in his 20s, becoming a staff writer at "The New Republic" for three years (1995-1998), where 27 of his 41 published stories were either partially or completely made up. Looking for a short cut to fame, Glass concocted sources, quotes and even entire stories, but his deception did not go unnoticed forever, and eventually, his world came crumbling down...

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Plot Keywords:

fabricated facts | journalistic fraud | writer | magazine | journalist | 

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Taglines:

He'd do anything to get a great story.

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 November 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le mystificateur

Filming Locations:

Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$77,540, 2 November 2003, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,220,008

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$724,744

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lions Gate Films,Cruise/Wagner Productions,Baumgarten Merims Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min 99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The real Stephen Glass was offered a role. He declined.

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Goofs

The fact that Stephen says his stories are silly are clues he fabricated his stories because if they were true he wouldn't be discrediting and degrading his own stories.

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Quotes

Chuck Lane: [Over the phone] Can we have a talk here? Just editor to editor?
Kambiz Foroohar: Sure, go ahead
Chuck Lane: Completely off the record and almost human being to human being
Kambiz Foroohar: Of course
Chuck Lane: You guys have discovered something a troubled kid has done but I still don't know how you plan to play it
Kambiz Foroohar: We're not in the business of "gotcha" journalism I have no interest in embarrassing you or The New Republic
Chuck Lane: I'm not worried about me or the magazine that's fair game but there's a kid here just plainly screwed up big time, his reporting was...
[...]

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Connections

References Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

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Soundtracks

New Sensation
Written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence
Performed by INXS
Published by WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) obo Chardonnay Investments and XL Publishing Pty, Ltd. (APRA)
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Group
By Arrangement with Warner Strategic Marketing

User Reviews

Good Movie

Very enjoyable film, with good acting and great direction. Captivating story of a true pathological liar, with no regard for anyone in his path.

Steven Glass is represented as a writer who is intent upon gaining money, fame, friends, or any combination thereof through deceipt in his work. His transformation from 'likeable kid' to 'loser' is astounding, in that he never really transforms.

The best part of the film is how your feelings towards Glass will change 180 degrees from the start, despite the film never altering his personality one bit along the way. The viewer is merely presented the story, while the most drama will come from your own emotional reaction to what you are discovering.