Stuff
Those who enjoyed I, Tonya or American Animals will lap up this re-creation of a little-known but shocking story.
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Bad Education (2019)
Cory Finley (Thoroughbreds) directs Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney, Geraldine Viswanathan (Blockers) and Ray Romano in this true story embezzlement scandal dramedy.
"Long Island school superintendent Frank Tassone (Jackman) and his assistant superintendent for business, Pam Gluckin (Janney), are credited with bringing Roslyn School District unprecedented prestige. Frank, always immaculately groomed and tailored, is a master of positive messaging, whether before an audience of community leaders or in an office with a concerned student or parent. In short, it seems Frank can do no wrong. That is, until a plucky student reporter (Viswanathan) decides to dig deep into some expense reports and begins to uncover an embezzlement scheme of epic proportions, prompting Frank to devise an elaborate cover-up — by any means necessary." (Toronto International Film Festival)
Less2019Rating: 16108 minsUSA
ComedyDrama
- Director:
- Cory Finley ('Thorougbreds')
- Writer:
- Mike Makowsky
- Cast:
- Hugh JackmanAllison JanneyGeraldine ViswanathanRay RomanoAnnaleigh AshfordAlex WolffStephanie KurtzubaKathrine Narducci
Bad Education (2019) | Reviews
Rolling Stone
A career-best Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney shine as New York school administrators who stole millions from their Long Island district. Cory Finley's steadily riveting provocation jabs at the culture of money that makes us all complicit.
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The New York Times
It's a plum part, sure, but also a deeply unsympathetic one - a chance for the actor to channel his charisma toward dark, mischievous ends.
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Wall Street Journal
It's a delicate and memorable performance by Mr. Jackman. Ms. Janney does the whole Long Island thing as well as anyone ever has. The most resonant character, though, might be Rachel, whom Ms. Viswanathan imbues with the indignation of youth.
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Vox
Bad Education serves up stellar performances from Jackman and Janney, both of whom seem trapped in hells of their own devising, suspended between a desire to serve the community and the feeling that their labor is underappreciated.
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Little White Lies
It's a story about the lengths people will go to for self-preservation, deliciously mean and as funny as it is outrageous.
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The Guardian
The film's real ace is a never-better Jackman, following up an underrated turn in last year's The Front Runner with another difficult and inscrutable protagonist.
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Collider
Director Cory Finley crafts a consistently compelling and often humorous tale anchored by Hugh Jackman's impressively nuanced performance.
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Variety
"Bad Education" can be a hard lesson to accept, but a necessary one in how the world works.
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