(Billy Ray, US 2005, 94 min., DCP)
Based on the New Republic scandal of the late-1990s, Hayden Christensen plays Stephen Glass, the youngest reporter on the magazine’s staff, and seemingly a star on the rise. Glass draws the attention of the editorial staff when elements of his story on young Republicans are unable to be verified. His story about teenage hackers being hired by tech companies as consultants brings more attention, but also more scrutiny. As his story is pulled apart by both New Republic editors and Forbes reporters, Glass scrambles to justify his reporting and, ultimately, his career. A breakthrough for internet journalism, the story underlines the importance of trust and transparency in the fourth estate. Peter Sarsgaard, Chloë Sevigny, Rosario Dawson, Melanie Lynskey, Hank Azaria, and Steve Zahn round out the cast.