A straightforward and conventional thriller that doesn't achieve its misplaced emotional catharsis.
Fresh perspectives on relationships that offer some nice laughs.
A fun, high-octane film that could have used more seriousness and fewer subplots.
A straightforward, family-friendly film that will inspire audiences.
High school kids with guns, standard action, and a remedial story.
An amazing gift for fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a tremendous feat 10 years in the making.
An impressive silent film that finds a modern voice amidst a backdrop of romantic nostalgia.
The worst thing that can be said about this film is that it’s just not exciting, compelling, or memorable. But other than that, it’s fine!
I generally find cutesy titles distasteful, but I'll let it slide here, because the film itself is actually quite good. Shattered Glass is based on the true story of Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen), a young, hot-shot writer for The New Republic in Washington D.C. He rose to fame quickly over his three years with the publication by partially or completely concocting his stories. Everything goes relatively without a hitch, until another publication starts researching one of Glass' stories. The film covers Glass' desperate attempts to keep from being found out.
There's a lot to like here. The writing is rock solid. Billy Ray - who also directed the feature - does an elegant job of misleading the audience and keeping them on the fence as to whether or not Glass actually did fabricate his stories (that is, if you aren't already familiar with the real story). Only once does Ray play dirty, using an "it was all a dream" convention, but, given the character of Glass, it works out. Also, a sufficient amount of the film is dedicated to the journalism process, giving the movie a believable authority and adding quite a bit of depth to the plot as a whole. As a writer, it was also nice to see the bits where writers fought for bylines or asked for criticisms. All in all, the script is highly nuanced.
Some pacing issues mitigate the enjoyment of this otherwise excellent horror film.