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Bad Education
(HBO Films)
By Lucas Allen
Based on the New York Magazine article “The Bad Superintendent” by Robert Kolker, “Bad Education” recounts a time when a prestigious high school was caught up in an embezzlement scandal. It was so shocking that it makes the recent college admissions scandal look like a petty crime. Much like that, this story will surely make you think twice about getting your kids into an affordable college.
Some time in 2003, Frank Tassone (Hugh Jackman) was a successful superintendent at New York’s Rosalyn High School that was ranked fourth in the country. But underneath his charming and kind demeanor, he hides something entirely different that will become the main focus of this serious story. It started when the school’s financial manager Pam Gluckin (Allison Janney) was caught stealing some of the budget to pay for her family’s summer home. After her firing, it’s where things start to unravel.
When ambitious student reporter Rachel (newcomer Geraldine Viswanathan) was doing research for an article on the school’s construction of a new skywalk when she discovers some hidden receipts that were kept in the school’s basement. It turns out that Tassone was also in on the embezzlement using the school’s money for his own extravagances. This includes clothes, hygiene, personal flights, and rendezvous with his secret boyfriends. As soon as the story is broke, Tassone will have to use his all his power to proclaim his innocence.
Whether or not you had heard of this story when it first broke, it’s a very interesting one that unfolds throughout the film. Each new revelation adds a whole new layer of awe any viewer will feel when they come into this film without any prior knowledge. Once it gets to the third act, the story loses momentum and the ending becomes predictable. Maybe it’ll still appeal to you if the earlier acts are more interesting to you, but the rest would rather get more excitement out of watching old episodes of “Unsolved Mysteries.”
The movie is nicely made with some exceptional talent in front and behind the camera. It does try to convey the story by showing us a little more of Frank’s life outside the school with Rachel’s story being an important subplot. However, this film keeps running into pacing issues when some scenes keep dragging on too long that another run in the editing room could’ve helped it a little more. But in spite of that, some choices like music and condensing of events keeps the film from overstaying its welcome.
Jackman gives a commanding performance in one of his finest leading roles. He gives the character a side of charming evil and sinister play that actually works for this film. Both Janney and Ray Romano who plays the head of the school board are pretty good in their somewhat limited supporting roles. Viswanathan is the film’s breakout star becoming the likable heart and soul of the entire piece.
Bad Education has a very interesting story, though the movie is simply decent, especially for an HBO movie. It may sound disappointing, but the talented cast and the layers of craziness makes it worth watching. At least, school’s out for summer.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: TV-MA
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3 Stars (Out of Four)
