Based on the true story about a superintendent and his vice who stoles millions of dollars from the school district as well as hiding other things about himself. Its brilliantly played out and easy to get sucked into the story.
Previously published on Vulturehound HERE.
Scandals never go the way you’d expect, which what makes them an excellent plot for a film, they can literally go anywhere and be anything. Corey Finley’s ‘Thoroughbreds’ had audiences sit up and notice his flawed and curious film but with ‘Bad Education’ is where he has found his rhythm. Based on the real scandal involving a superintendent stealing money from the school district over years and how it was uncovered by a student journalist for the school paper and by a stupid mistake that was found by luck.Previously published on Vulturehound HERE.
The key to not suspecting someone is ripe for scandal is that they are someone everyone loves and admires, this is Frank Tassone, the superintendent that made his school district number four in the state. He is charming, fair and inspiring, basically everything you’d want in a person in that high ranking position. His vice superintendent, Pam Gluckin, is as charismatic as he is, except that she and to an extent, her family have been using the school district’s credit card for years and have essentially stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars. When the power duo are broken up, Tassone is the one to make sure no scandal takes place but not for the school’s reputation. The scandal is bigger than anyone could have thought and the disbelief that it could be worse is swept under the carpet.
The behaviour of those involved is comically brilliant. Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney are perfectly cast as at first friends, with more in common than they think, and later, separately battling with their past mistakes. The comedy is dark and to the point, making the few tender moments in the film grounded in reality. Once the whole truth is revealed, there is no escape for anyone who is even remotely involved, showing how no one gets away with misdeeds.
The fact that Tassone is the one who encourages the student journalist to write a story rather than making her writing a puff piece is perfect irony. She follows the story and decides to reveal far more than she could have for seen. Tassone’s encouraging nature and desire to make his district great feels genuine if it wasn’t for the millions he had stolen or the lies he told. Instead of this being a scandal slowly unfolding, its really just a realisation that even if someone seems like the nicest person in the world, they are probably hiding a secret that outweighs the kindness. A brilliant observed story based on a true story that is refreshingly darkly funny as well as excellently performed.