HBO is both a great and slightly regrettable home for Bad Education. When they picked up the movie out of the festival circuit, it was somewhat of a surprise. After all, the flick had gotten some strong awards buzz, especially for star Hugh Jackman. Would they really be going for potential Emmy (and Golden Globe) attention, as opposed to gunning for Oscars? Well, it appears that way, and aside from that unusual quirk, it’s undeniable that they have a quality picture on their hands. This is actually one of the better titles of the year, no matter where you actually see it. The film is a true crime character study, looking at a massive instance of long term fraud in the affluent Long Island city of Roslyn. The school system in the town is among the best in the nation, due in no small part to the work of the Superintendent of the district, Dr. Frank Tassone (Jackman). Beloved by parents (for increasing the property value of their homes) and students (for his legitimately dedicated ) alike, Frank is the educational equivalent of a rock star. However, along with the school district’s Business Administrator, Pam Gluckin (Allison Janney), Frank has been bilking the taxpayers out of massive amounts of money. When Pam’s spot is blown, Frank throws her under the bus, in an attempt to save his own skin. Unfortunately, a suspicious Roslyn High School student and aspiring reporter Rachel Bhargava (Geraldine Viswanathan) begins to uncover his house of cards. When all is said and done, Frank and Pam, along with their friends and family, will be convicted of engaging in the single largest public school embezzlement scandal in American history, totaling more than $11 million. Cory Finley directs a script by Mike Makowsky, with cinematography by Lyle Vincent, along with a score from Michael Abels. The strong supporting cast includes Annaleigh Ashford, Kayli Carter, Rafael Casal, Pat Healy, Kathrine Narducci, Ray Romano, John Scurti, Jeremy Shamos, Stephen Spinella, Alex Wolff, and more. Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney are excellent here, though Jackman especially shines. Both are able to hit comedic, as well as dramatic, high points, making these characters three dimensional and, if not lovable, deeply understandable crooks. Janney is a force of nature here, but what Jackman accomplishes may be the best work of his career. A winning smile, a sense of truly caring, and ample amounts of […]