TV Review - Bad Education (2020)

Hugh Jackman gives the best performance of his nearly 30-year career. I didn't see his Oscar-nominated role in Les Misérables (2012). In general, Jackman always gives great performances. He's a terrific actor. Most people know him for his amazing physicality, starting with his star-making turn in X-Men (2000), which has been considered one of the ultimate expressions of masculinity. He's also known as a song-and-dance man, ever since his Tony-winning role in The Boy From Oz (2003) where he played gay musician, Peter Allen. His roles are typically big and bold. He can do roles that are more low key and subtle. The most recent example is The Front Runner (2018) where he played a politician whose on the verge of a scandal, exposed by journalists. That film wasn't as well received as it was hoping to be. This film is basically Jackman doing The Front Runner again but this time a tighter, more intimate, smaller scale but somehow bigger stakes than that Jason Reitman Oscar-bait.

Directed by Cory Finley, doing his second feature, and written by Mike Makowsky, doing his feature debut, we see amazing young talent on the rise. Adapting an New York magazine article by Robert Kolker, this is based on a true-life story. Technically, this film isn't about a politician, meaning a person running to be or who is currently an elected official in either branch of government, but the person is a de facto politician, given the things he has to handle and way in which he has to handle it. He could be considered a businessman or business executive type, but he's supposed to be overseeing a nonprofit organization, namely a school district. Yet, we see the running of schools is very much a political process or involves politics as much as business.

Jackman stars as Frank Tassone, a Ph.D and former teacher who is now the superintendent. He mainly oversees schools in Roslyn, New York, which is in the suburbs of New York City, on Long Island. His office appears to be in Roslyn High School. It's obvious that Frank is a very charismatic and very gifted educator. He specifically knows how to talk to students in order to teach or argue a point. He's gregarious and smart. He seems like a person who is genuinely a believer in providing children with good learning. In 2002, Frank's office is turned upside down when it's revealed that someone has been using school money for personal use and not small things but extravagant things.

It's revealed that people in the school administration are essentially stealing money from the district for luxury purposes. The why is probably what's most important, which is a bit more complicated than just sheer greed. On the outside, it might just seem like people being materialistic or vain. However, as the curtain gets pulled back, it could all be about presenting an image in order to hide another because of fear.

Allison Janney (I, Tonya and Juno) co-stars as Pam Gluckin, the business manager for the school and who works directly with Frank. If Frank was a politician, she seems like she would be his chief-of-staff. She doesn't have all the pretenses that Frank has though. She doesn't limit her diet like Frank. She doesn't take so much concern with looking young and perfect like Frank. She's a lady who looks well, dresses well and drives a fancy car, but she's certainly not as superficial as Frank. The opening sequence is Frank spending an inordinate amount of time getting ready and looking in the mirror. Pam might take an inordinate amount of time getting ready, but she's not as obsessed with image as Frank.

There's a lot of great humor in this film, but what's funny is that Frank and Pam who are former teachers also study, almost as if they're students prepping for an exam. For Frank and Pam, they're studying is people in order to schmooze them. Some might see it as being manipulative, but Frank and Pam are excellent in working people in order to get what they want. It comes from them doing their homework. It throws into question whether or not they are being sincere in their attempts to better the learning and education of children.

Geraldine Viswanathan (Miracle Workers and Blockers) also co-stars as Rachel Bhargava, a junior at Roslyn High School. She lives with her single father who works construction after having lost his career on Wall Street. Given what happened to her father, she is a bit wary of people in power being corrupted. She does work for the school newspaper and she starts investigating for a story about some of the school's funding and what she uncovers challenges or helps to put into question what Frank and Pam are doing. When she's opposite either Frank and Pam, Rachel is the perfect example of an impartial journalist, not allowing herself to be emotionally swept up in their manipulations. Seeing her be stoic in a way is such a flex for her and funny in the way those scenes are executed.

Finley's direction in general makes all his scenes greatly executed in how they allow the performances to really shine. His pacing is so great as well, as things move along so smoothly and so efficiently. Every scene enlightens as to who these people are and un-peels the layers in amazing fashion. There's also spectacular supporting performances from a brilliant cast, including Ray Romano and Annaleigh Ashford (Unbelievable and Masters of Sex). As of now, this is the film that should win Outstanding Television Movie at the Primetime Emmys.

Rated TV-MA.
Running Time: 1 hr. and 47 mins.

Available on HBO.