BAD EDUCATION Makes the Grade as Good Entertainment

"Bad Education" is an HBO movie just released based on the true story of the extortion of millions by the Rosalyn H.S. superintendent, Frank Tassone (Hugh Jackman) and the school's asst. superintendent, Pamela Gluckin (Allison Janney).  The scandal has been usurped by the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, however, they both share more than their proximity to NYC.  They're both audacious crimes of fraud that flourished unfettered and both were taken down in a David. Goliath scenario.  Moreover, there are complicit parties whose blinders abetted the culprits because of self-serving greed & gain.  Tassone & Gluckin's blatant bamboozling of the school's funds was brought down by a high school student doing a "puff piece" on the plans for a skywalk construction project.  In truth, the school reporter was investigating the sudden dismissal of Gluckin whose extortion was revealed.  Tassone, a narcissistic egomaniac defended Gluckin to the school board from pressing criminal charges not so much out of loyalty but out of fear of being outed for his own flagrant misappropriation of the school's finances.  The school board who are outraged by Gluckin's theft are kept from notifying the authorities who convinces them that it is in the interest of the school's excellent reputation for placing seniors in the Ivy Leagues and keeping their real estate values in the big leagues.  What makes this made for TV movie such a guilty pleasure is the unctuous performance by Jackman and Janney's bombastic portrayal of Gluckin.  Supporting actors on the bench are also first rate, Annaleigh Ashford as Gluckin's greedy niece and Rafael Casal as Tassone's boyfriend. Everyone has to love Ray Romano in his convincing role as a character actor.  In summary, the acting is A+.   Jackman & Janney are varsity standouts in a division one league despite an uneven playing field of storytelling.  It's their unflinching ugliness and delusional grandeur characterizations that inflates this incredulous, albeit factual crime to something worth cheering.  Both Tassone & Gluckin served prison time for their crimes.  The most disturbing & hard to fathom fact to digest is Tassone still draws a pension of over $174,000 annually and hasn't made full remuneration to the Rosalyn school district.