Bad Education (2019) User Reviews

Well Done

[Diablo1616 · 7/10 · 11 May 2020]

This movie is much more than the famous early 21st century scandal and the actors chosen to portray their respective roles are undoubtedly best placed in every moment.

For me, this movie was not just about embezzlement of funds but more than that, the two minutes of agony that Dr. Frank Tassone(Hugh Jackman) had against the system and the world was the highlight. Although shown as a negative character, I could empathise with the actions taken by a public school teacher and how frustrating it is to be a part of a system where people instead of appreciating their mentors, forget and move on in their lives.

The movie is about the mindset that the people in public service develop over-time, which is what compels them to do things that even they consider heinous. A frsutrated person tries to reason out with himself that his actions are justified and this is what drills him deeper into an abyss of negligence from which it is unable to crawl out.

It all comes down to the role that we are expected to play in this world. We often forget the small, yet significant contribution of some people in our lives. That is why we should appreciate the people who help us in becoming who we are today, otherwise the other Dr. Frank-s won't have an option but to repeat the history again and again

Compelling viewing: very interesting and entertaining

[grantss · 8/10 · 24 May 2020]

A school board discovers that one of its administrative staff has defrauded the school out of about $250,000. They have the staff member pay back the money, resign and leave it at that. Without knowing this, a journalist on the school newspaper starts investigating the school's finances and discovers that the issue may be bigger than what they school realises.

Highly interesting and entertaining film based on a true story. Very well told story. The extent of the issue is not revealed at the outset, so you get to discover it as the investigators do. The writer and director play their cards close to their chests, bleeding in the information, making for quite compelling viewing.

Great work by Hugh Jackman in the lead role. The character required an actor of great charm, charisma and presence, making Jackman perfect for the role. Good support from Alison Janney, Geraldine Viswanathan and Ray Romano.

Great film.

Surprisingly outstanding

[film_watcher_ · 8/10 · 22 May 2020]

Great performances here and a fascinating "small town" story. I was thrown for a complete loop with this movie. At a certain point I was glued to the screen until the ending credits. It's highly compelling. On the surface it seems rather predictable, but it soon spirals into a much more interesting story with some quite powerful and emotional moments. Some of the most intriguing stories really do come from small communities and unassuming characters. I can definitely see why an actor the caliber of Hugh Jackman signed on for this. I got far more out of this movie than I ever expected to, and it has genuinely stuck with me. Really impressed with this and would absolutely recommend to others. It seems like Netflix is really finding it's niche with projects like this. This is a movie that's perfect to watch during quarantine and doesn't require a cinema screen, which was wonderful.

public trust broken

[ferguson-6 · 7/10 · 24 April 2020]

Greetings again from the darkness. Trust in our national institutions may be at an all-time low, but it's not like there haven't been plenty of events over the years to make us wary enough to demand attention and oversight. This story of the 2002 Nassau County Schools scandal is a prime example. This is director Corey Finley's follow up to his clever and twisted THOROUGHBREDS (2018), and the script is from writer Mike Makowski, who was a student in the district when the scandal hit.

Hugh Jackman plays Dr. Frank Tassone, the District Superintendent of Schools, while Oscar winner Allison Janney (I, TONYA) is Pam Gluckin, the Assistant Superintendent. Both are excellent, but Mr. Jackman delivers what might be his best ever performance. His Tassone is uber-charming, and clearly wants the best for the schools and students. We do notice some oddities about him. He seems to be overly concerned about his physical attractiveness - perfect business suits, facelifts, not a hair out of place, and big smiles to show the world he has it all under control. In contrast, if Ms. Janney's Pam had a mustache, she would certainly twirl it as the story's most obvious villain.

The film opens by informing us that the district has been evaluated as doing excellent in terms of student test scores, student admissions to prestigious schools, raising property values in the area, and with financial success that leads to a new construction project - one that appears to be more of an ego project than substantive for education. Ray Romano plays the President of the School Board, and we get glimpses of life at the school, and the challenges faced by the administrators. As with many things, if all is well, few questions are asked.

However, stuff hits the fan when a reporter for the school paper starts doing some basic research. Rachel (Geraldine Viswanathan, BLOCKERS) is writing a "fluff" piece on a new high dollar capital improvement project at the school, when she stumbles on irregularities in billing. It turns out Ms. Gluckin has been embezzling for years. When the discrepancies first come to light, the conversations with the school board and administrators is downright fascinating. The crime is obvious, but by going public, who does it help and who does it hurt? These people don't want the kids to lose opportunities. They don't want their property values to drop. And they don't want the bad publicity that comes with being unaware fraud had been ongoing under their watch.

Once Ms. Gluckin's scheme has been exposed, Jackman really kicks it into gear for Tassone. Any additional details would spoil the fun, but it becomes clear that he's a master manipulator. Corrupt people have a way of convincing themselves their actions are justified, given the good work they do. You know the drill - underappreciated and underpaid. Solid support work comes from David Bhargava as Rachel's father, who is also going through his own professional crisis. Alex Wolff is the editor of the school paper, and he faces his own moral dilemma in a scene where he knows the right thing to do will actually cause harm to his college opportunity. Finally, Rafael Casal stars as Kyle, a bartender/dancer and former student of Tassone, as they are reunited in Las Vegas.

Director Finley and cinematographer Lyle Vincent (THROUGHBREDS, A GIRL WHO WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT) shoot in harsh light, never allowing the truth to hide behind soft filters. These are complex people with real lives and real families and real friends, all doing good things for the students. Watching a compromise of morals or a twisting of ethics is always a bit uncomfortable, but the film shows just how easy we can overlook the obvious. The film features brisk pacing with some dark humor in moments that least deserve humor. The trailer is a bit misleading, as the comedy is quite dark in nature. A low-key approach to filmmaking provides none of the over-the-top dramatic flair we expect. Instead it's social commentary and a psychological study of pathological liars and manipulators ... in positions that bring public trust.

Not bad, not great, good enough

[allanwatts-02122 · 6/10 · 16 May 2020]

It didn't take itself too serious. The movie was obviously dumbed down to an almost comedic level & put together as compact as possible keeping viewers interest just long enough. Jackman does a great job & really kept the movie together. Lucky enough Jackman was the main character, great acting. I think the movie would have worked on a more serious note also, there was enough detail available based on true facts to be serious or in this case a more relaxed option. Worth the watch. Solid 6 /10

solid

[mrpicky · 7/10 · 2 May 2020]

Great cast, great story, strong creative script. Interesting story of corruption of surprisingly large scale in underfunded education field. Nice work on showing many sides of main characters. Unlike most of movies that keep everything black and white. Allison Janney killed it again. one problem tho: they could focus more on ordinary teachers that lead poor lives. How that was a major spit in their faces.

Home Schooled.

[aciessi · 9/10 · 23 May 2020]

Released on television, but truly meant for the big screen. Bad Education is an astounding film about a good-old fashioned, American white collar crime in Roslyn, New York. Directed by Cory Finley, this is a huge step-up from Thoroughbreds. Hugh Jackman and Allison Janey are Oscar-worthy here. Jackman is slick and slimy as Dr. Frank Tassone, who's reputation as the world's best superintendent comes crumbling as he's exposed as a co-conspirer in the largest public embezzlement scheme in American history. Geraldine Viswanathan and Ray Romano knock out their respective roles as well. All around, the talent on and off-screen is exceptional here. Don't let this one go under the radar during your time at home. You don't even have to wait until HBO Max launches. See it now.

I guess there's only so much you can do with this story...

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 7/10 · 3 May 2020]

...but adding an overbearingly loud satirical score, doesn't make this a satirical dark comedy. For that matter, where was the comedy?

This film would've showed better and captivated the audience by making it a drama, with a proper score, faster pacing, with elevated personalities and dialogue, instead of drab and monotonic characters. Jackman and Janney were the only reason I didn't fall asleep, and their outstanding performances is the majority of my rating. Poor judgement on the screenplay's genre choice, but decent directing and cinematography. A generous 7/10 from me.

Hugh Jackman is so underrated

[AlsExGal · 9/10 · 6 May 2021]

He plays school superintendent Frank Tassone who, over a decade, embezzled millions from Long Island's Roslyn school district. But he wasn't alone. Embezzling even more was administrator Pam Gluckin (Allison Janney), who is also terrific. If you only know her as the 50 something libertine grandma in "Mom" this is a real departure from that.

What makes this film great is the slow reveal. The film first looks like a set up for some kind of 21st century Room 222 - if anybody else here is old enough to know what I'm talking about. Tassone looks too good to be true as far as his energy and involvement with the kids. And he got real results. Roslyn became a top rated public school district. Real estate values in the district shot up because, unfortunately, top rated school districts are hard to come by anywhere, along with the coveted Ivy League college admissions that come with it.

But slowly, it becomes obvious - to the viewer that is - that Tassone is living a double life in many ways. Jackman as Tassone plays his hand very close to his vest, and I did not look up the details of what went on precisely because I wanted the plot to be somewhat of a surprise, and it was. How he and everybody else gets caught is a bit different in the film from the real story, but basically the plot is true.

I really liked how the parents were portrayed. They wanted to believe an illusion because to believe the truth might mean their kids don't go to Harvard, and their real estate values decline in a place where life is a race not a journey. Also the art design was done very well. Yes there were personal computers and cell phones in the early 2000s, but this really did look like 2002-2003. The sets, clothes, technology, and music were near perfect. The little things like the bulky computer monitors with those early Windows screensavers were spot on.

Youtube film reviewer Chris Stuckmann had this in his top ten list for 2020 - in fact he rated it 3rd - even though it was made in 2019, and I'd never even heard of it. I guess it was a victim of bad timing with the pandemic occurring and it being bought up by HBO rather than having a general release. I'd highly recommend it.

Poor man's "The Big Short"

[joekuhlmann · 6/10 · 18 May 2020]

Hugh Jackman was great. Allison Janney was great. Ray Romano was ok as usual. That said the movie was desperate for some sort of entertainment value. It was moderately boring from start to finish. I found myself hoping something was going to break open and because the film did not deviate from the truth it suffered a bit. The big short had it's comedic moments. The wolf of wall street had a very interesting main character to work with. This film however didn't really have the right source content to produce a truly entertaining piece of cinema. Was it a bad movie? No not by a long shot. It was fine. There was some good character development along the way and the cinematography was handled well. When the movie was over I was just left with the feeling that, as a native long islander in my mid 30s, the film didnt offer much that I didn't know about the story already. Decent flick, just not necessarily for everyone.

An instant favorite

[jimpowellsf · 9/10 · 26 April 2020]

I was uninterested in watching this movie, but thought I would give it a shot given that it's based on a true story. Allison Janney is amazing, Hugh Jackman delivers a great performance, Geraldine Viswanathan is stellar (as always), but the entire cast is great (truly). From the beginning the film tells the story in captivating and compelling ways. The momentum builds over the course of the hundred minutes. Edge of your seat storytelling. This could have been made into a miniseries. It's just that good. Do yourself a favor and see it.

Hugh Jackman aka Frank Tassone still gets his pension

[three8s2013 · 7/10 · 26 April 2020]

An interesting story told in an interesting artsy way The acting was first class. You know why criminals get caught? Not because of the crime they committed, they get greedy.

It's ticks all the boxes except for the "Not boring " one.

[smithnumber · 5/10 · 6 March 2021]

I can just imagine the production meetings on this one. "We've got Alison and Hugh and this is an sure-fire Oscar nomination for him!" and "It's true story about rich people and greed. everyone hates the rich!". There's only one problem - this film is neither engaging or funny enough to hold attention. In short, it's got all the right elements but it's just a bit boring.

One of the few films that made me think that the real story would have made an excellent docuseries.

Why is it categorised as a comedy?

[kfpanda64 · 6/10 · 26 November 2020]

Why is it categorised as a comedy? Dont find it funny at all.

Watch it for Jackman and Janney

[shweta-51657 · 7/10 · 1 May 2020]

This is a film no one wants to watch, just by looking at the premise. But I was keen when I saw Hugh Jackman was involved as the lead. And from the first scene of the movie, you can tell it is going to be a good movie based on his character. Alison Janney is a pleasure to watch in this film as well. The movie is carried on the shoulders of these two accomplished actors and they make the sleazy embezzlement affair enjoyable to watch.

Bad Education.

[ts-0000 · 26 April 2020]

When something is based or inspired from a true story,it can be a hit or miss depending how it's represented. That being said.. Great cast,wasn't horrible but felt slow in spots.

Solid Film

[deansimpson-31878 · 7/10 · 27 April 2020]

Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney are EXCELLENT, the cinematography is on point, and the story teaches a valuable lesson about the consequences of narcissism & deceit. Aside from some questions I have about the motivations of a single character.....for example, what drove Rachel, a student, to research so much about and ultimately uncover the school's history of embezzlement when it could have easily backfired?....... I enjoyed it. This is a solid film to watch while you're still quarantined (haha).

Amongst the best of the year 2019

[imdb-ikysmoviedatabase · 9/10 · 9 September 2019]

Fabulous performance superb acting by all cast members wonderful direction and beautifully written.

Solid film. Great actors. Flat storyline.

[Amazing-Stories · 7/10 · 27 April 2020]

Impeccable performances by all actors. One of Hugh Jackman's best.

The way the story unfolds just isn't very engaging. There are few surprising twists or turns. You know everything there is to know very early on, and then you basically just watch the story play itself out the way you expected it to all along.

This is a solid film with a flat storyline problem. Not bad at all, but not very thrilling either. 7/10 is fair.

AWESOME

[Felicedoll · 10/10 · 10 September 2019]

Loved this film! Great script, direction and fantastic acting. Also a film with a message for today. A suburban school seeking to be #1 in its district is enamored and deceived by their charming Superintendent of Schools. Lots of twists and interesting characters. Well done and thoughtful film!

"Do their names escape you?"

[Clintborari · 6/10 · 2 June 2020]

This film is based on a true story of Embezzlement at New York's Roslyn School, however, the drama is a little slow paced and predictable. It is interesting to see the concept of the scam and how the people got away with the crimes they committed for so long.

The film is convincing with Hugh Jackman leading from the front while he is strongly supported by Ray Romano and Allison Janney. We can see how easy it is for people to abuse our modern employment systems for their gain. Of course, this job relies heavily upon the assistance of a team working tirelessly together rather than just an Individual.

I have always found these types of stories and films extremely compelling. As I truly enjoy hearing the backstory of people, how, why and what inspired them to get to the point in their lives where they decided to do what they did.

I wouldn't say this was an original story, or that it blew me away. But it is fascinating and has a range of different personalities each with their own motives.

6/10.

Award Worthy Performances from Jackman and Janney

[evanston_dad · 8/10 · 2 December 2020]

Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney give award-worthy performances in this based-on-a-true-story account of a school superintendent who runs a money laundering scheme for years under everyone's nose.

Jackman is the beloved superintendent, and Janney is the administrator who helps him by cooking the books and benefits financially herself. A writer for the school paper accidentally stumbles into a major story when she comes to interview them about a new fancy addition planned for the school and instead uncovers some suspicious financial transactions. It's her article in the paper that reveals the scheme and ends up landing both of them in jail.

"Bad Education" is modest in its ambitions, and it's as a result nothing fancy, but it is fiendishly entertaining and superbly acted, not just by Jackman and Janney but by the entire cast. It's about people willing to live their entire lives as a lie in the pursuit of material stuff.

I'm not sure whether the film is eligible for Oscars; I believe it was originally intended for theatrical release but was instead released as a movie on HBO -- not sure if that counts as a T. V. movie or a streaming movie that had to find a COVID workaround. If it is eligible, I would love to see Jackman and Janney in the running for nominations.

Grade: A.

Expecting Something Else

[ThomasDrufke · 6/10 · 8 May 2020]

Bad Education is a film I've been hearing great things about for months now. After premiering at the festivals last fall, it's been a long road but it finally made it. And I think after viewing it's tough to blame HBO for the long wait. I'm not sure this film would have been a good fit for theaters as I can see it being hard to market. It has a few funny moments amidst a wildly illegal scandal in an NY High School but this may be a story better read than it is made for film. There's something about the pacing and execution that didn't seem to play as well as I would have hoped on screen. I think I was hoping for something a little bit closer to the comedic highs of "Bad Teacher". Oh well.

6.8/10

Just a simple movie

[Xavier_Stone · 5/10 · 4 December 2020]

This movie is not compelling as several fake reviews have stated. I guess this is a new word to describe movies. Compelling - requiring attention, overpowering, irresistible effect

This movie is about a few bad educators in positions of authority who hid their crimes so badly by owning multiple homes and driving fancy cars.

After looking at the true story I think the director failed to show how long and how lavish the thieves were living, how much they stole and of course how light their prison sentences were.

Aight

[demirkasapoglu-00882 · 6/10 · 7 December 2020]

Very much not a comedy its a good movie but I was expecting a comedy and I didnt get it thats why the rating low. Its just none of the jokes really landed and were in awkward times and the movie is just too serious for jokes.