Frank Tassone (Hugh Jackman), the charismatic superintendent of a Long Island school district, rules his kingdom with aplomb. Beloved by his community, he’s brought prosperity that’s the envy of other districts, and is on the cusp of finishing a massive project that will be the feather in his cap. When a student from the school paper pulls on a thread of errant expense records that implicates Frank's second-in-command, Pam Gluckin (Alison Janney), Frank has to act fast, devising a scheme that spirals out of control.
Inspired by the almost too-bizarre-to-be-true scandal that rocked the Rosyln, New York school district, and written by a former student during the time when the story broke, director Cory Finley twists this thrilling yarn with the direction and balance of a master storyteller. Showcasing incredibly nuanced performances from Jackman and Janney as well as a supporting ensemble at the top of their game, Bad Education is a genuinely sly and gleefully dark tale of the cost of the American dream.—Landon Zackheim
Cory Finley is a New York-based director and playwright. He adapted his first film, Thoroughbreds, from his play of the same name; it premiered at Sundance and was released by Focus Features in 2018, earning Gotham and Independent Spirit nominations for its screenplay. Bad Education is his second film.