Though a bit too conventionally structured, the film is frequently riveting, thanks to stellar performances from Peter Sarsgaard (as Glass's boss), Hayden Christensen (Glass), Steve Zahn (as the guy who unraveled Glass's lies), and Rosario Dawson (who is just smokin'). The film is the antimatter All the President's Men, similarly drawing you into the supposedly fascinating world of editorial work, but in this case, it's a much more intensely private Watergate scandal. Ultimately Shattered Glass doesn't manage to explain what drove Glass to his downfall, other than "pressure" and "wanting to please people." I'm not sure this is a flaw in the screenplay, as a "60 Minutes" interview with the real Glass (included on the DVD) shows that the guy is just a real creep. If anything, Christensen makes him seem a lot more appealing than he really is. I had to fight my inherent distaste for movies that glamorize editors … what the appeal is, I'm not sure. They're all fucking nerds, myself included. But for the most part I found myself consistently intrigued. Despite some awkward framing devices and clichéd shots, it's worth a look, especially since it offers further insight about how Anakin gradually turned into Darth Vader.
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