Bad Education

Bad Education is a 2019 movie directed by Cory Finley and stars Hugh Jackman, Ray Romano, and Welker White. It is a based-on-a-true-story drama that takes place in Roslyn, Long Island, in the early 2000s. Jackman portrays Frank Tassone, the charming and accomplished superintendent of the Roslyn School District, while Romano plays Bob Spicer, his loyal assistant superintendent.

The movie starts with a glimpse into the daily routine of Tassone and Spicer, who are well-respected members of the community. The Roslyn School District is one of the best in the state, with high test scores and impressive college acceptance rates. The parents trust Tassone and Spicer with their children's education, and the teachers respect them as leaders.

However, the movie takes a turn when a student journalist, Rachel Bhargava (played by Geraldine Viswanathan), begins investigating the school district's finances for a story. What she uncovers sends shockwaves through Roslyn and beyond: Tassone and Spicer have been embezzling millions of dollars from the school district for over a decade.

The rest of the movie explores the fallout of the scandal and its impact on Tassone, Spicer, and the community. We see Tassone and Spicer desperately try to cover up their crimes and protect their reputations, even as the evidence against them mounts. We also see the toll the scandal takes on Rachel, who is caught in the middle of a complex story with no easy answers.

One of the most striking things about Bad Education is how it portrays Tassone and Spicer as sympathetic characters, despite their wrongdoing. Jackman and Romano both give nuanced, multi-layered performances that show the men as complex figures rather than just villains. Tassone, in particular, is a fascinating character study. On one hand, he genuinely cares about the students and teachers in his district and wants to see them succeed. On the other hand, he's incredibly narcissistic and self-absorbed, and his desire for power and success leads him down a dark path.

The movie also tackles larger themes around class and privilege. Tassone and Spicer's crimes are motivated in part by their desire to maintain their status as successful, respected educators. They want to live in expensive homes, wear designer clothes, and travel to fancy restaurants. At the same time, the movie shows how their actions hurt the very people they are supposed to be serving. The theft of millions of dollars from the school district means that students and teachers don't have the resources they need to succeed, and some programs are even cut entirely.

Overall, Bad Education is a gripping, well-acted drama that explores complex themes of power, privilege, and morality. It's a reminder that even the most respected members of society can have dark secrets, and that the pursuit of wealth and success can often come at a great cost.