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.

Bad Edcuation is one of the most incisive, sharp-as-a-new-knife and darkly funny films about politics since Election - and like that, it goes to show that focusing on the school system, from the corrupt to the innocent and everything in between, to get to the heart of all that. When it comes to power and control (and what journalism can do, always worth being reminded),this story is as potent an exploration as one could ask for right now, and it's all painfully relevant to right now.

This is just a brilliant, deft and intense script, it's an absolute career high point for Jackman (I now feel like Reitman let him even more down with that Gary Hart movie, given what a super saavy but way in over his head politician he's playing in the guise of a superintendent),not to mention Janney and Romano et al, and the direction, which is laser focused on driving the character moments and psychology of every single potential moment, is a major leap forward from the guy who brought us Thoroughbreds.

Secret MVP: Frank's black-death smoothie. Also, Viswanathan is a revelation in her unassuming way.

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.