The Mosley Review: Bad Education
In my life, I have had a number of fantastic teachers through my education. From elementary to high school, I could name at least 5 teachers that have led me to success and taught me how to be a better person towards others. They were great mentors, but they were also human. We all makes mistakes and we gladly pay for them, but we all hope to not make the kind of mistakes that will either hurt anyone or end a career. The true story behind this film was a definition of making a huge mistake without almost any remorse. Vanity is by far the the greatest sin and the main players in the story were victims too it. The portrayal of the real life characters was excellent and felt real. I didn't really feel too sorry for all the main characters because they all knew the consequences. I did feel empathy toward one character because of how charismatic and generous he was towards others. Embezzlement is a terrible crime that even today is still rampant throughout companies and school systems. Lets just hope that this film reminds those that it isn't worth it in the long run.
The cast in this film was stellar all around. Hugh Jackman delivers his trademark charm to role of Dr. Francis A. "Frank" Tassone. He nailed the character's ability to make you feel like the most important person in the room. His softer tone lended so much to bringing to life the wholesome feeling and the characters’ humanity. I felt bad for him as he had a goal he wanted to meet, but his ambition got in the way of what was right. There were a number of moments where you start to subtly see Frank unravel and it’s expertly done. Another knock out performance was brought to life by Allison Janney as Pamela Gluckin. She had that classic towering confidence while perfectly portraying Pam's feeling of guilt and betrayal. The two of them together were outstanding and you felt their friendship. Ray Romano was truly excellent as Bob Spicer and he was perfect as the voice of reason. I loved his moments with Frank and how he tried his best to save his friend. Alex Wolff has been a growing star for the longest and he gives a great performance as the student Editor in Cheif Nick Fleischman. One of the real standouts in the film was from Geraldine Viswanathan. As the junior journalist Rachel Bhargava, she nailed that relentless nature of getting to the truth. She brilliantly portrayed the burden of making a life altering decision with such ease. My favorite scene is between her and Hugh Jackman was the best word play and delivery of a warning.
The score by Michael Abels was excellent and subtle in the more tense moments. I was surprised by how funny the film was aside from the heavier moments. My favorite moment was the sandwich scene. This was definitely a great film that highlights the real story and many others like it while delivering a strong message. It truly is a plague in our society for greed and vanity to take over rational thought and its even worse when it gets covered up. I really enjoyed this film and it should definitely not be missed. HBO is currently streaming all of their content for free and this film is on HBO GO. You should really check this one out.
