Bad Education (2019 film)

Bad Education
Official promotional poster
Directed byCory Finley
Screenplay byMike Makowsky
Based on"The Bad Superintendent"
by Robert Kolker
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyLyle Vincent
Edited byLouise Ford
Music byMichael Abels
Production
companies
  • Automatik
  • Sight Unseen
  • Slater Hall
Distributed byHBO Films (through Warner Bros. Television Distribution)
Release dates
  • September 8, 2019 (2019-09-08) (TIFF)
  • April 25, 2020 (2020-04-25) (United States)
Running time
108 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Bad Education is a 2019 American crime drama film directed by Cory Finley and written by Mike Makowsky. It is based on the 2004 New York magazine article "The Bad Superintendent" by Robert Kolker,[1][2] about the true story of the largest public school embezzlement in American history.[3] It features an ensemble cast including Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney, Geraldine Viswanathan, Alex Wolff, Rafael Casal, Stephen Spinella, Annaleigh Ashford and Ray Romano.

Set in the Long Island village of Roslyn in the early 2000s, the film tells the story of school district superintendent Dr. Frank Tassone (Jackman) who, along with assistant superintendent Pam Gluckin (Janney) stole millions of dollars from their wealthy public school district, and together attempted to cover up the embezzlement. The screenwriter, Makowsky, briefly met Tassone as a child before the scandal broke and attended Roslyn High School in the late 2000s.[4][3]

Bad Education made its world premiere on September 8, 2019, at the Toronto International Film Festival and was broadcast on HBO on April 25, 2020. It was well received by film critics, with particular praise for Makowsky's screenplay, Finley's direction, and Jackman's and Janney's performances. At the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards, the film won for Outstanding Television Movie and Jackman received a nomination for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.[5]

  1. ^ Kolker, Robert (2004-09-17). "The Bad Superintendent". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  2. ^ Pond, Steve (April 28, 2020). "'Bad Education' Fact Check: Did All of That Crazy Stuff Really Happen?". TheWrap. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Miller, Julie (September 8, 2019). "The Unbelievable New York School Scandal That Inspired Hugh Jackman's New Movie". Vanity Fair. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  4. ^ West, Teri (October 3, 2018). "Hugh Jackman will play Frank Tassone in film written by Roslyn alum - Great Neck News". The Island Now. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  5. ^ "Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie — 2020". Television Academy.