n the late 1990s, New Republic writer Stephen Glass — a twenty-something wunderkind — invented stories from whole cloth to suit himself and his editors. He sought success and approval at the expense of ethics. Billy Ray’s lean and simple movie provides insight into self-doubt and delusion thanks to a wonderful performance by Hayden Christensen as Glass. The movie’s moral, one among many, is to beware the endearing among you: they may be telling you only what you want to hear. Peter Sarsgaard is admirable as Chuck Lane, the editor who finally brought Glass to heel. A bright film about media and ethics because it never preaches.
I
About the Author: Marcia Yarrow
A military brat, Marcia Yarrow was born in Hamburg, Germany but grew up in Germany, Spain, and Provo, Utah. She's been writing for the magazine since its creation in 2004.