Review of Shattered Glass

"Shattered Glass" is a tight little film that is engrossing from beginning to end. The director wisely doesn't try to pump up the story line with any histrionics or fancy camera-work. He tells the story plainly and clearly and we get the point very nicely. The cast is uniformly excellent with Hayden Christensen and Peter Sarsgaard standing out. Sarsgaard starts off wary. We're not sure if he's likable or not because he underplays him. But as the story begins to unfold, we see how decent and level headed he is and he wins us over. Christensen has the more difficult task. Play a character that, in the end at least, is reprehensible. But he also has to make it clear that there is something likable about the guy. If this wasn't the case, then the character would not have been able to get away with everything he did.

A lot of critics responded to this film by saying about the subject "so what's the big deal? Reporters lie all the time". I think they missed the point and the appeal of a film like this. Haven't we all known or worked for or with someone that gets a lot of respect and admiration but that we know (or think) is secretly B.S.-ing a lot of people? And it's somewhat gratifying to watch them fall when they're finally caught? That's the curious sensation you get from "Shattered Glass". OK, it's not the most admirable of emotions but it's the core of what's appealing about melodrama.

And that is what this film is: melodrama. And a fine one at that.