Shattered Glass [DVD] [2004] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Rather than painting Glass as overtly malicious, this film is more sympathetic. It depicts Stephen as so craving the affection and respect of his colleagues at the NR that he'd go to any extreme to contribute a sensational story for the magazine. It left me wondering what Stephen's home life was like while growing up. However, in contrast to last year's hit CATCH ME IF YOU CAN wherein the featured scam artist was presented almost as a folk hero, at least the creators of SHATTERED GLASS had the honesty to portray its protagonist for the pathetic puppy he apparently was. Christensen was eminently believable as Glass - I despised the character from the very start.

The "hero" of this film, if there can be said to be one, is the NR's new managing editor, Chuck Lane (Peter Sarsgaard), who must determine the extent of Stephen's lying ways without alienating the rest of the young staff writers, who already consider him to be the toady of the Big Boss. Sarsgaard's Lane did a splendid job of causing me to suspend my cynicism for a brief moment and actually believe that the NR's collective mea culpa at the finale was actually brought on by a hiccup of journalistic integrity than the fact of getting caught. Funny, though, how the Big Boss wasn't shown as being moved one way or the other. Where was the righteous indignation from that corner?

For me, SHATTERED GLASS was more of an opportunity for incredulous fascination than entertainment. I suspect that a viewer's appreciation of the film would be enhanced by regular reading of the New Republic, something I've not done even once. (I'm therefore not burdened with the sobriquet "intellectual".)

And, as we learn before the final credits roll, the real-life Stephen Glass has since finished law school. Isn't that just too precious for words?