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Based on the true story of political journo Stephen Glass - who fooled Americans with a slew of fabricated news articles - Billy Ray's Shattered Glass is "All The President's Men for the Clinton era". Despite earning rave reviews, sometime Skywalker Hayden Christensen did not have the requisite pulling power with moviegoers above the age of your average Phantom Menace fan. Still, its release on DVD may yet help cement its place as one the best films of 2004.
Heart Of Glass
Some may question why an upcoming journalist would risk his career by pulling news stories out of thin air. After watching a riveting 60 Minutes interview with the man himself, it becomes clear that Glass is the worst kind of attention seeker - revelling in the spotlight even in a state of disgrace. "My life was one very long process of lying and lying again to cover those other lies," he explains. But it's difficult to shake the feeling that Glass is actually proud of having duped his superiors, and the American people at large. When asked about the implications of fabricating sexual harassment claims against former Clinton advisor Vernon Jordan, Glass talks around the ethical crux of the matter, lamely justifying it by saying that he thought people would "enjoy" it.
Leon Wieseltier, literary editor of The New Republic, is also on hand to offer his thoughts on the unassuming young reporter who started out as a fact checker (oh, the irony) for this well-respected political magazine. "He was sweet in what turned out to be a very sinister way," says Wieseltier while also conceding, "We got really suckered."
What Follows Is True, Maybe...
Chuck Lane, former editor of The New Republic, offers more insight into the dodgy work practices of Stephen Glass in an engrossing audio commentary with director Billy Ray. He recalls editorial meetings where staff would always be regaled by Glass's latest "caper", and picks on particular incidences - such as the sex scandal that flared up around Vernon Jordan as a result of Glass' vicious diatribe. As Lane explains it, this article actually appeared in George magazine, headed by the late John F Kennedy Jr, who would later write a public letter of apology to Jordan after Glass himself became the subject of scandal.
As well as Lane's first-hand testimony of events, Ray talks in-depth about the techniques he adopted to create the whimsical fantasy sequences that take you inside the twisted mind of Stephen Glass. He also discusses the changes made after test screenings where, paradoxically, audiences just didn't buy the fact that such a fresh-faced lad could wield so much power.
Although lacking in quantity (and offering no contribution from Hayden Christensen), this package of extras offers a unique opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with a flawed but fascinating real-life character. Shattered Glass cuts straight to the heart of the matter on DVD.
EXTRA FEATURES
The Shattered Glass DVD is out to buy on Monday 4th October 2004.
