Movie review
March 17, 2021 · 100 min · R
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The 2021 Netflix documentary uses reenactments of FBI wiretapped calls and interviews to detail Rick Singer’s “side door” scheme that helped wealthy parents secure elite college admissions for their children. It focuses on the mechanics of the fraud and the entitlement of the clients involved. The film frames the scandal within a broader look at how the admissions system already advantages the privileged through wealth and connections.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal.
Woke representation / casting
No forced diversity or identity signaling in casting.
Woke political dialogue
Reenacted calls and expert comments address wealth advantages in admissions.
Identity-driven story themes
No racial, gender, or queer identity arcs or messaging.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Frames the scandal around a college admissions system rigged for the wealthy privileged in a class-based exposé style.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No backlash claiming the title pushes woke, activist, or identity-political content.
Creator track record context
No relevant prior work cited.
Production
