Shattered Glass is a film that probably would have made my best of 2003 list had I seen it in time. While certainly small in scale, it's large in overall effect thanks to outstanding performances, smart writing and the added bonus of knowing that the creative plot is based on truth...I hope.

Inspired by real events, Shattered Glass tells the story of Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen), a young, enthusiastic journalist who had the privilege of writing for a well respected political and social commentary magazine called The New Republic back in the mid 90's. Glass was popular among his colleagues for regaling them with high energy and colorful stories about how he'd get his pieces, during pitch meetings. Plus he knew how to push the right buttons with self-effacing modesty and flattery for those in a superior positions. Glass would go on to write several of the magazine's most popular stories, and became something of a journalistic hot-shot--eventually, getting his work published in Rolling Stone and other high-profile publications (although this is something that the film really doesn't explore).

Trouble would arise, however, when a writer for "Forbes Online," (Steve Zahn) gets a ribbing from his editor for getting scooped by Glass on a story involving high-paid corporate hackers, (Zahn's area of expertise, one would guess). Somewhat surprised by some of the allegations Glass's makes in this expose, Zahn sets about checking a few of the sources Glass sites in the piece - and before long he begins to smell a rat. After a futile attempt to validate any of the facts or contact any of the principal players in the Hacker story, Forbes has soon got a story of their own. In a panic Glass attempts to cover his tracks, but under pressure himself, Glass's editor at the New Republic Chuck Lane is forced to investigate Glass's method's himself and it isn't long before Glass is ensnared in a web of his own fabrication.

Shattered Glass is a beautifully fashioned film, but it's one of those movies that I probably wouldn't have bought into had it not been based on fact (again, I hope it was based on fact). As I became completely engrossed by the events depicted in this picture, I couldn't help but be reminded of Catch Me if You Can (another true story that features a young man who is able to fool those around him) and even The Usual Suspects (think Verbal Kent).

When Star Wars: Attack of the Clones was released, Hayden Christensen caught a lot of flack for his wooden performance. I maintained that this was more of a director/writer thing (I applaud you Mr. Lucas, but you're not exactly an actor's director these days). After all, Christensen can be effective in the right role (he was quite good in Life as a House), and he hits all the right notes in his depiction of the manipulative Stephen Glass. While we aren't given a lot of background into this character (as the movie opens, we're plunged right into the journalistic action), Christensen is still able to convince those around him and us that he's honest and merely the victim of phony sources - who were out to take him down. The movie wouldn't really work without this most important element.

Still, as solid as Christensen is, this film really belongs to Peter Sarsgaard as the quiet, honorable and intuitive Chuck Lane. His character was put into a tough position, Glass was the most popular writer at the New Republic and had the support of everyone who worked there. Sarsgaard's portrayal of the ethical and even-tempered Lane who went about uncovering the truth with an absence of malice and a fair-minded "it's my job" approach was the performance that shined above all others. The way he handled his responsibility as the Editor of the magazine and his lack of any personal agenda eventually wins the respect of everyone - and the fact that he emerges as the hero is one of the more interesting points that the film puts across.

Writer/director Billy Ray has fashioned an insightful film about journalism, and also paints a fascinating portrait of a young man who not only loved attention, but needed it to survive. And what's most interesting is Ray doesn't really write Glass as a sympathetic character (this is where Shattered Glass's central character differs from Catch Me if You Can's Frank Abagnale Jr.). By the end of the film, I didn't really feel sorry for him, and I don't think that we we're meant to. This is one unpredictable picture, and I for one was quite surprised by how Lane is treated by his peers at the end of the movie.

This really is a very nicely crafted film. On the face of it, you wouldn't automatically guess that a film based on this subject matter would be so compelling, but I was sucked into the story right off the bat, and I would recommend that next time you're in the video store, you pick it up. On a sidenote, check out the extras on the DVD. There's a compelling 60 Minutes interview with the real Stephen Glass. It's a less than flattering look at this individual, but it's more than fair. There's also an informative commentary track by Chuck Lane and Billy Ray.