BAD EDUCATION : Fan Reviews/Reactions

[jo]

Tweeter is my countrywoman - traitor

To be fair - Rafael seems like a pretty good actor. No overacting, in order for the character to be noticed.

Jo

[jo]

the reiteration of the first min in the last min.

That was a very powerful filmmaking technique! Captured the essence of the story of Frank Tassone!

[jo]

Excellent point!

[jo]

Rotten Tomatoes also accepts and prints reviews from fans...and some of them reach the status of SuperReviewer presumably because they submit their reviews for many movies.

One of the Super Reviewers's account --

May 04, 2020
4 of 5 stars

NATURAL ELECTION - My Review of BAD EDUCATION (4 Stars) A classic satire comes along every so often to remind me, more than other film genres, that great art can come with a sucker punch to the frontal lobes. Movies such as Network, Nightcrawler, Heathers, and The Lobster remind us that when humans go bad, it's tragic yet devastatingly entertaining. In 1999, Alexander Payne brought us Election, which on the surface brought us a High School Student Council race, but really showed us how the war between ruthless ambition and morality could destroy the very fabric of society. I consider it a masterpiece and have hungered for more films like it ever since. I've waited and waited. Yes, Jojo Rabbit wowed me, but a great satire grounded in the mundane reality of a high school setting has proven elusive. The genre often spells box office poison in this cut and dry storytelling era in which we often find ourselves.

Finally, Cory Finley, who brought us the impressive, tonally distinct Thoroughbreds in 2017, has followed it up with Bad Education. It oozes Election's DNA and announce itself as one of the best films of 2020 along with a career-best performance by Hugh Jackman. He stars as Frank Tassone, a real life Long Island High School Superintendent, who in 2002 when we first meet him, has brought Rosyln High School into the number 4 position in the country. Everybody loves Frank. He remembers everyone's names, takes part in an otherwise women's only book club, pays attention to his students, and eases complaining parents' worries by allowing their children to take tests again. This, coupled with the fact that so many students get into Ivy League schools and that property values have gone sky high because of his school's desirability, and no wonder Frank gets a virtual standing ovation wherever he goes.

His loyal partner-in-crime, Pam Gluckin (Allison Janney) acts as his Business Administrator, and presides over the development of a multi-million dollar Skybridge for the school, which will add to the prestige. Frank and Pam work hard, banter effortlessly, and have the world at their fingertips. Pay close attention, however, and you'll notice little cracks here and there. It's called Bad Education for a reason. Things go real bad. Screenwriter Mike Makowsky, who attended Rosyln High around the time of the film's events, impressively peels back the onion layers of the story. He beautifully mines suspense out of each little reveal and twist, giving the film a fantastic forward momentum. I knew nothing about the story going in, and won't spoil those details here, but I haven't felt this confident in a storyteller's abilities since Vince Gilligan blazed a trail with Breaking Bad.

Additionally, he has written for a large cast of characters, all of whom have distinctive voices and a chance to pop. While Jackman and Janney do stellar work, (more on them later), Geradline Viswanathan (a hilarious standout from Blockers) beautifully switches gears by giving a smart, tamped down performance as a student journalist with a great B.S. Detector. She answers to Alex Wolff's Nick, the newspaper editor who only cares about getting into a great college. Wolff, who shined in Hereditary, also surprised me with his ability to inhabit his soul- deprived character. Tony Winner Annaleigh Ashford broke my heart as Gluckin's naive niece and co-worker, a person who thinks her tiny issues have caused so much trouble while neglecting to see the big picture problems right in front of her. Ray Romano knocks it out of the park as the head of the school board, a man who has had his own financial success but can't or won't acknowledge the nefarious schemes because his school has excelled so much. Rafael Casal plays a former student of Frank's who didn't quite live up to his potential. If you think you know Casal from his street-smart writing and acting in Blindspotting, think again. Here's an actor with true range, making himself nearly unrecognizable from before by changing his voice and demeanor to effortlessly slip into the skin of this sensitive gay bartender/dancer. Jeremy Shamos stands out as the put upon accountant who Frank plays like a fiddle to keep him from figuring out what's really happening. I wish Allison Janney had more to do in the second half of the film, but she galvanizes the first half with her fearless characterization of a woman who knows how to bulldoze a conversation to her liking. The accents may be broad, but she, like the rest of the cast, find the specifics of their humanity.

The film, of course, belongs to Jackman. With slicked-back hair and sharp suits, he commands any room he enters. Sure he's relatable lamenting the perpetual charcoal smoothies he drinks for his diet and smooth as he expertly bats off adoring single parents, but there's also something tightly wound and off about him. His early conversations with Pam feel like romantic comedy banter but the details fly by so fast you're not really sure what they're talking about. Stick with it, because Makowsky and Finley know exactly what they're doing to rope you in and make you hold on tight. As it progresses we see more and more of the real Frank emerging. We experience a touching scene in which Frank awkwardly lets down his guard to share a dance with someone. Moments later, we meet the real Frank and it's the most naked and raw Jackman has ever been. Another late scene gives Frank the opportunity to bare his true feelings and intentions on an unsuspecting parent, giving us a glimpse into Frank's motivations, truly ugly but also understandable. It's clear that Frank has had to perform for people his entire life, as he expertly navigates his image. It's a wonderfully modulated, scary, yet humane performance. We may not like what Frank does, but it's easy to put yourself in the shoes of an underpaid, overworked servant to the community.

Finlay and his cinematographer Lyle Vincent keep the film grounded with a realistic, fluorescent, dull sheen. The events may be extraordinary, but they, like Alexander Payne, know how to find life in the ordinary. Composer Michael Abels, who wrote the brilliant scores for Get Out and Us, brings a sense of grandeur to his symphonic cues and the right type of melancholy to the piano pieces. It adds up to a score which supports the dichotomy of Frank's public persona versus the really troubled man underneath. Janney's first line says so much about the themes of this film, "A wise woman once said, it's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got". We all want nice things in life whether it be a nice place, a comfortable car, exotic travels, a healthy and happy family, to name a few. Sometimes we may ask ourselves what we would compromise in order to have our riches. Are we entitled to them? Do they make us happy? Bad Education, a perfect microcosm of our world today, seems to be saying that it doesn't matter. Maybe wanting is everything.


Glenn G
Super Reviewer
Apr 26, 2020

Another one --

With the limited number of new releases lately, I was glad to see that HBO was releasing Bad Education. I didn't get the chance to catch it at the festivals last year, but it has now had its at-home premiere. I went into this film fairly blind, considering I had no prior knowledge of these events. After ready the premise of the movie and hearing that it was a true story, this movie became a must-watch for me. For the most part, I was riveted by this film and I feel that a lot of people will be as well, especially if great performances help your enjoyment. In the Roslyn school district in Long Island, New York, money has been used for many things, other than for the school district itself. This lead to the discovery of the largest embezzlement scandal in history. As this film unfolds, you learn that there is more than meets the eye to pretty much everyone involved. Hugh Jackman portrays Frank Tassone, the superintendent, and Allison Janney portrays the mysterious Pam Gluckin, who's well-intentioned actions pretty much ruin her life. These two performances light up the screen, so throughout any minor dull moments, the two of them kept me engaged.

This film wouldn't exactly unravel the way it did without the supporting cast either though. In particular, Geraldine Viswanathan as Rachel Kellog, a nifty student who can see through anything, delivers the best performance I've seen from her yet. Her wits scare most of the employees of this school district and that was one of the more interesting aspects of the story for me. This film is really all about how a scandal can ruin many lives, but there's a lot more here to enjoy than that, especially if you're a fan of film in general.

Proving that he was both a talented writer and director with his work on the film Thoroughbreds, I've been eagerly awaiting Cory Finely's next project. The very obvious fact that he works closely with his performers is not lost in this movie, as he brings out the best in everyone involved. Bad Education only furthered my appreciation for this filmmaker. While he has yet to blow me away, I've really enjoyed both of his outings for many reasons. This is a talented filmmaker that I believe more people should be keeping an eye on.

In the end, Bad Education benefits from a meaty story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. That wouldn't have been possible without some fantastic dialogue written by Mike Makowsky, so he deserves some recognition here as well. This cast hardly ever misses the mark on any of their projects, so I wasn't all that surprised to see them being great here as well. The only way I can see people not liking this film is if they find the material itself boring, but I thought, much like the film The Social Network, that the screenplay is what made this movie so good, to begin with. Now available on HBO, I recommend checking this one out.
Show Less

KJ P
Super Reviewer

[jo]

From a tweet from Peru --

Combustión Espontánea

@blazetook


Bad Education (2020): La corrupción no es una falla en el sistema, es una consecuencia de venerar a la ambición como modelo de vida. El éxito exige un compromiso y disposición absoluto de tus principios y fines.

El carisma de Hugh Jackman es una fuerza de la naturaleza


******************************************

Translated from Spanish by Google

Bad Education (2020): Corruption is not a fault in the system, it is a consequence of venerating ambition as a model of life. Success requires an absolute commitment and disposition of your principles and ends.

Hugh Jackman's charisma is a force of nature

[jo]

A future teacher from Hungary describes Bad Education --

Hegyi Balázs

@balmount_SB


{Bad education}: A film, amit a "politikusképzőben" mindenkinek le kéne vetíteni. Ja, és Hugh Jackman nálam már most ott van az év alakításai között.


Translated from Hungarian by GOOGLE

{Bad education}: A film that should be screened by everyone in "politician training." Oh, and Hugh Jackman is already there with me in the cast of the year.

[jo]

Surreal and heartbreaking moment!

[njr]

^ Hugh’s ear looks strange.

[jo]

[jo]

Emily Nussbaum
@emilynussbaum

BAD EDUCATION: Highly entertaining and kinda poignant, too. Top-notch performances & jewelry.

********************************


Andrew Rose Gregory
@arosegregory
·
10h


We were halfway through when I realized my mother in law had been acquainted with some of the players!

*******************************

Emily Nussbaum
@emilynussbaum
·
Even better! It made me very, very curious about the true story.


*******************************


X Æ A-12 Dodes
@racheld


Replying to
@emilynussbaum
and
@arosegregory

I went to that high school and can say the story was mostly true but 1) Frank Tassone looks absolutely nothing like Hugh Jackman and 2) they failed to capture the spirit of Roslyn (less LL Bean, more Prada). They really missed an opportunity to showcase the “Clueless” of it all.

They were referred to as the helicopter moms in the movie - that is so much better than just wearing Prada

Clueless of it all -- I wonder what she meant?

It is implied that even if there were some unexplained situations ( a school superintendent living on Park Avenue in Manhattan... a school administrative head driving a Jaguar and has a house in the Hamptons), people just looked the other way because the laps of luxuries for the 2 top honchos were small compared to the inflationary impact of the school reputation on real estate prices!

[jo]

Continuation of the above thread --

Rhea Butcher
@rheabutcher

Replying to
@emilynussbaum
So good

*******************************


debshoes
@deb_schuster
·
Replying to
@emilynussbaum
Allison Janney. That is all.


********************************

Lauren Milberger
@laurenmilberger

Replying to
@emilynussbaum
Agreed!

*******************************

JaniaJania
@zarqa

Replying to
@emilynussbaum
It was a compelling story for those of us who've lived on Long Island. Wish they'd gone deeper into the real estate stuff driving it all (they had like one line about it). But, yeah, fabulous performances, especially from Hugh Jackman.


********************************

JB
@jennyweez

Replying to
@emilynussbaum
My only complaint was that I would have liked it to flash back and show HOW they started ripping off the school & how they got away with it. I felt like more could have been shown about Alison Janney’s character. That said it was highly enjoyable beginning to end.


********************************

Matt Teper
@tepertweets

Replying to
@emilynussbaum
My wife, a native Long Islander, had big-time ISSUES with the accents. But I was fully entertained the whole way through

*********************************


Matt Teper
@tepertweets
·
For the record, the only one who truly nailed the accent is the woman who played Jenny, the niece

*******************************


Professor Ash
@prof_ash1

Replying to
@emilynussbaum
Student journalists ftw!


******************************

Rebecca Goldstein
@rebecculous
·
Replying to
@emilynussbaum
The accents!

******************************

Bill Tipper
@tripleblip

Replying to
@emilynussbaum
I am watching it right now (almost done). I like the way it paced some of the plot points, and very well cast.

******************************


Gordon Haber
@gordonhaber
·
Replying to
@emilynussbaum
On target Long Island accents

******************************

I don't understand why people fuss so much over the accents.

Wasn't Frank Tassone from the Bronx and went to Columbia U.

He may have been the school superintendent for almost 10 years but he also lived on Park Avenue, in Manhattan


Jo

[njr]

May 24, 2020 10:08:28 GMT -5 jo said:

Emily Nussbaum
@emilynussbaum

BAD EDUCATION: Highly entertaining and kinda poignant, too. Top-notch performances & jewelry.

********************************


Andrew Rose Gregory
@arosegregory
·
10h


We were halfway through when I realized my mother in law had been acquainted with some of the players!

*******************************

Emily Nussbaum
@emilynussbaum
·
Even better! It made me very, very curious about the true story.


*******************************


X Æ A-12 Dodes
@racheld


Replying to
@emilynussbaum
and
@arosegregory

I went to that high school and can say the story was mostly true but 1) Frank Tassone looks absolutely nothing like Hugh Jackman and 2) they failed to capture the spirit of Roslyn (less LL Bean, more Prada). They really missed an opportunity to showcase the “Clueless” of it all.

They were referred to as the helicopter moms in the movie - that is so much better than just wearing Prada

Clueless of it all -- I wonder what she meant?

Maybe referring to the movie “Clueless?” (it was also made into a TV show)

www.imdb.com/title/tt0112697/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Nancy

[jo]

[jo]

Nacho Gonzalo
@loqueyotediga
Replying to
@teresabs15

Allison Janney ya nos ha demostrado que es capaz de todo pero la el primer plano final de Hugh Jackman es clip digno de todo premio.

Translated from Spanish by Google

Allison Janney has already shown us that she is capable of everything but the final close-up of Hugh Jackman is a clip worthy of all awards.



JoAB
@joab46466753
·
48s
Replying to
@loqueyotediga
and
@teresabs15
The expression on his face which was practically crumpling with anxiety ... than fantisizing into joy... was a true acting moment! Not every actor can convey such outward show of inner emotions!

[jo]

[jo]

From a playwright/screenwriter & theatre director --

Africa Ukoh
@pensage
10 mins into BAD EDUCATION and Hugh Jackman has already laid down markers for an excellent performance.
5:44 AM · Jul 19, 2020·Twitter for Android

·
3h
Replying to
@pensage
Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney playing off each other is the stuff of genius!
Africa Ukoh
@pensage
·
2h
This film is already looking like genius stuff, man. Stylish without detracting from the performances (you do NOT put Jackman and Janney on screen then surround them with noise!). Exquisitely balanced tone. Gentle plot building. Cohesive storytelling.
Africa Ukoh
@pensage
·
2h
The courage to keep it simple is a trait I admire in directors, whether it's film or stage. Knowing when to trust that the material will be emphasized by deemphasis and having the security of self to step back, guiding it to breathe easy.
Africa Ukoh
@pensage
·
2h
And it's smack on the American aesthetic that I love.

A pity if the AMPAS does not recognize this excellent effort in filmmaking!


Jo

[jo]

This Aussie did not like BAD EDUCATION and thought Hugh's portrayal was not good use of his talent --
is Hugh stereotyped in his mind?

[jo]

But this French-speaking tweeter has the opposite opinion --

Translated by Google --

BAD EDUCATION is one of those films based on various facts that do more than relate the scandal. It paints an intense, ambivalent and fascinating portrait of a troubled man, played by the brilliant Hugh Jackman. Lucid but not Manichean, a devilishly well written film.

It looks like the word manicheen/manichean is of French origin --

Manichean
The Manichaean adjective refers to the ancient religion of Manichaeism. The contemporary meaning, in the figurative and literary sense, corresponds to a simplification of the relations of the world, reduced to a simple opposition of good and evil. The founding opposition of Western morality is reduced to the conflict between Satan and God. Being "wicked" from the point of view of God can be regarded as anyone who opposes him without serving him, or rejecting his universal authority, for example, at the promulgation of the first ten commandments. It is therefore a stereotype of the definition of the World linked to a religious, non-rationalist thought.

[jo]

[jo]

[jo]

[jo]

A pity that it never got a chance for Oscar recognition because it never had a chance for a theatrical screening.

[jo]

Mr Rabbit & The Bearded Lady
@rabbitladyfilm
·
44m
This belongs on my shelf next to CHICAGO JOE AND THE SHOWGIRL, SHATTERED GLASS, OWNING MAHOWNY, THE HOAX, BREACH, and THE INFORMANT!





Mr Rabbit & The Bearded Lady
@rabbitladyfilm
·
44m
You’re getting the idea: this sort of true crime material, where the con artists are lying to themselves as much as their marks, is one of my cinematic addictions (which obviously says something about my own pathology. Theorise away).
Mr Rabbit & The Bearded Lady



@rabbitladyfilm
·
44m
Anyhoo, this is top drawer black comedy, with a real sense of human weakness and an innate understanding of how the desire to not rock the boat can lead to disaster.
Mr Rabbit & The Bearded Lady



@rabbitladyfilm
·
43m
Hugh Jackman has always been a showman, so he's entirely convincing on the grift, but he captures the real little man underneath too. Loved it!




JoAB
@joab46466753
·
7m
Too bad that BAD EDUCATION ended up in HBO. It was intended for the big screen&actually held its premiere at Toronto filmfest. But HBO gave a festival-record bid for its film rights. It could have won Oscar recognition. It did win an EMMY as best TV movie & a nod for HughJackman.



JoAB
@joab46466753
Do read Variety's review of Bad Educartion ( selected as Critics Pick) -
From variety.com

variety.com/2019/film/reviews/bad-education-review-hugh-jackman-1203328219/


JoAB
@joab46466753

My favorite scene is at the end, where Tassone hallucinates what could have been. Jackman proves he can do dual identities extraordinarily well.
Maybe that is the secret to him being a superhero & a song-and-dance man

[jo]

Laïcité
@telaicite
Hugh Jackman’ın Bad Education filmindeki, “accelerate” yerine “asselerate” diyen öğrencisine düzelttiği şu tek sahnesi > bütün Kuru Otlar Üzerinde

Translated from Turkish by Google --

This single scene of Hugh Jackman in the movie Bad Education, where he corrects his student who said "asselerate" instead of "accelerate" > is the whole story of On the Dry Grass

JoAB
@joab46466753
·
2m
Brilliant piece of acting from Hugh Jackman!

It is so unfortunate that the producers of Bad Education decided to sell the film rights to HBO.

While it is true that Hugh Jackman got an EMMY acting nomination, he missed a chance for Oscar recognition because it was shown on TV instead of theatrical screens.

Jo