Fantastic performances by Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney, who had superb onscreen chemistry, in this dramatisation of the largest public school embezzlement in American history. If this was a theatrical release, both Jackman and Janney will be definite shoo-ins for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress nominees.
The film, on the other hand, was weaker than its stars. As with most true-story retelling (and even adaptations of popular novels), the cinematic tension and conflict will have to come from within the narrative or the characters, given that the audience would most likely already be aware of the final outcome. And in this case, director Cory Finley and screenwriter Mike Makowsky were not able to find a hook to fully engage the audience for them to care. Sure, Jackman's character was the lead but we never really got inside his head except for a few fleeting moments that were more due to Jackman's abilities rather than the story itself. It was the same for Janney's case, who had slightly more histrionic scenes and sold it much better than the materials that was handed her.
The pacing was appropriate but it never felt like the story had any emotional or dramatic beats. It was more a retelling of an event rather than a fictional dramatisation of one; the premise was interesting, but the execution was flat. Other than the writing for the two stars, the rest of the of the writing was alternating between clunky, heavy exposition, and cringeworthy cliched.
Jackman was stellar. He held the screen and story together through all the faults. It was a perfectly fine-tuned, nuanced performance and a certainly a career best for him. He was a sociopath that was equally smarmy, charming, deceitful, manipulative, loving, caring and passionate. It was possible to believe all that in his portrayal of Dr Frank Tassone. Most people just think of Jackman as another Marvel superhero or that guy from Les Miserables, but many also forgot that his Logan was one of the memorable incarnation of a superhero and that Jean Valjean gave him his only Best Actor Oscar nomination. Not only that, he also gave great performances in The Prestige, Prisoners and even Eddie the Eagle. However, come the Emmys, his biggest challenger for the Best Actor in a TV Movie/Limited Series will be fellow Marvel superhero, the green-man himself, Mark Ruffalo for a fellow HBO production, I Know This Much Is True (one of the most devastating, perpetually sad and inconceivably heavy series about life, lost, death, mistakes...and ultimately hope).
Janney was ostensibly the lead actress in this film, but really she was a supporting character to Jackman. The early scenes between these two actors were the highlights of the film and Janney's downward spiral was a sight to marvel. However, it is hard not to feel like we have seen all that from her already. From her multiple Emmy wins as CJ in The West Wing and her most recent Oscar-winning turn in I. Tonya, it is almost starting to feel like we want another breakthrough from this undeniably thespian, and for her not to get typecast into a particular sort of role. There is a good chance she will get nominated for an Emmy for this role, but winning it will be challenging as she will most likely be up against the phenomenal ladies of Mrs America (a superb series that was riveting and educational given its subject matter - the Equal Rights Amendment - and had a seriously stacked cast of actress who all brought their A-plus game; Cate Blanchett might just get the Best Actress in a TV Movie/Limited Series for her turn as Phyllis Schlafly).
The other main supporting cast included Geraldine Viswanathan who felt out of her league acting against Jackman and Janney, Ray Romano giving a very Romano-esque performance, and Annaleigh Ashford who did the best she could with what she was given.
The score was by Michael Abels and it was quite memorable although might not be entirely fitting for the film as a lot of time it stood out distinctively rather than assimilating with the look and texture of the screen.
It is debatable whether it was the right decision for HBO to acquire this film. Given the current climate, it seemed likely that it will reach a bigger audience than a theatrical release. However, its cast did have a good chance of Oscar nominations which could have given the film legs to carry it through Oscar seasons. Nonetheless, at a trim 108 minutes, this film was an easy and entertaining watch buoyed by great performances from its two leads.
