For Hugh Jackman, corruption is no laughing matter

Scene from HBO’s true-to-life film, which premieres tomorrow

Hugh Jackman’s latest acting triumph comes by way of Cory Finley’s cleverly realized dark comedy “Bad Education,” which utilizes gritty humor as it dispenses lessons on corruption, overreaching ambition and the embarrassing downside of people’s misplaced sense of entitlement.

The film premieres on HBO and HBO Go at 8 a.m. tomorrow, with an encore telecast at 10 p.m.

At the center of this cautionary true story is Dr. Frank Tassone (Hugh), who’s been reaping praise for his effective programs as superintendent of New York’s Roslyn school district for 10 years.

Frank is as brilliant as he is charismatic. But there’s a dark side to all that flashy exterior that he conveniently sweeps under the rug: He and his assistant, Pamela Gluckin (the fabulous Allison Janney), has been spending the school district’s money to support their lavish lifestyles and buy expensive gifts for their loved ones.

Hugh Jackman in “Bad Education”

In Frank’s case, the self-proclaimed widower drives a Mercedes, wears expensive suits, serves lobster tails at luncheons, and blows a lot of taxpayers’ dough even on plastic surgery because he believes image is part of the glitzy package.

But his “Imeldific” extravagance doesn’t end there: He also spends as much for dry-cleaning services (his tab: $30,000) as he does to please the secret lovers—yes, plural—happily “hiding” in the closet with him.

While Allison has managed to acquire ritzy beachfront homes in Florida, Frank has put up a dummy company for Thomas Tuggiero (Stephen Spinella), his domestic partner for 33 years.

In his “downtime,” Frank takes his younger boyfriend, dancer-bartender Kyle Contreras (Rafael Casal)—who was a student in his English class 15 years ago—on gambling trips and first-class vacations to London, the Caribbean and elsewhere to keep him happy and satisfied.

Shockingly, Thomas wasn’t even aware of Frank’s infidelity until the latter was hauled off to prison!

Jackman (left) with Rafael Casal

But Frank and Pam’s lap of luxury comes to a screeching halt when Rachel Bhargava (Geraldine Viswanathan), a student journalist at Roslyn High School, accidentally digs up the dirt on an $11.2-million “revenue-making” scheme that threatens to rain on their parade! It is the single largest public-school embezzlement scandal in US history.

“Bad Education” is engrossing as heck, but the participation of writer-producer Mike Makowsky in the production gives it more credibility and deeper resonance. After all, Mike was in middle school at Roslyn when Frank was arrested in 2004 for his larcenous behavior.

Frank paid dearly for his excesses. But while he has certainly gotten his just deserts, he’s not completely out of the game just yet. In fact, when he was released from prison eight months earlier than his minimum four-year sentence in 2010 (for good behavior), Frank was still entitled to approximately $174,000 a year for his pension due to an oversight in New York’s state pension law. Not bad for an ex-con.

There’s much to enjoy in the film, from the ensemble’s finely tuned portrayals limned to cheeky perfection to the relevant themes anchored on Hugh’s pull-no-punches characterization and Frank’s shady, larger-than-life ego.

With Hugh’s tongue firmly in thespic cheek, it doesn’t take a lot to convince viewers that, indeed, corruption is no laughing matter.

With Ray Romano

Allison Janney