‘Cheaters’ a Smart, Thought-Provoking Tale

Ever cheat on an exam? Do you believe winning is everything?

If so, you may sympathize with the underdogs of “Cheaters,” a smart, thoughtful and unsettling morality tale about truth and the consequences of deceit.

If not, you’re still likely to be caught up in this compelling drama based on the story of a 1995 academic scandal in Chicago.

While exploring the divisive aspects of cheating, writer-director John Stockwell also delves into larger questions of ethics, hypocrisy and the shortcomings of public education.

Jeff Daniels, who was solid earlier this season as founding father George Washington, is even better here as Jerry Plecki, a committed teacher who likes to challenge his pupils, even the apathetic ones tuning him out at Steinmetz High, a working-class school in the Windy City.

With the annual academic decathlon looming ahead, one of the few responsive students he manages to reach is Jolie (Jena Malone), a confident, competitive teen who organizes a scrappy team willing to sacrifice time and energy for scholarship money and a remote chance to defeat a vaunted rival that has won nine years running.

As expected, the Steinmetz contingent struggles in regional competition, but its prospects improve dramatically when a teammate acquires the answers to the state finals, forcing Plecki to decide whether his overmatched charges should seize the advantage, a fateful choice that leads to jealousy and intense scrutiny from a ravenous media.

At this critical point, Stockwell is pretty much asking each viewer to consider what he or she would do in similar circumstances. Depending on the answer, you may lose respect for these underprivileged protagonists or find yourself rooting them on.

Either way, the resolution is absorbing thanks to Stockwell’s sturdy direction and the most interesting young cast this side of “Freaks and Geeks.”

Daniels merits good marks for his excellent portrayal of a decent yet conflicted man who clearly knows right from wrong but nevertheless holds “the system” accountable for past grievances. Malone also delivers a fine performance, complementing a strong resume that includes the powerful TV movie “Bastard Out of Carolina.”

Character development among the other students is sketchy, but Dov Tiefenbach is a standout as Irwin, the snitch whose envy upends the group.

All things considered, “Cheaters” is a class act.

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“Cheaters” can be seen tonight at 9 on HBO. The network has rated it TV-MA (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 17).