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Movies / On DVD / Election
Election

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Election (1999)

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Reviews Counted:85

Fresh:79

Rotten:6

Average Rating:7.7/10

Consensus: Election successfully combines dark humor and intelligent writing in this very witty and enjoyable film.

Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: Director Alexander (Citizen Ruth) Payne's second film, based on the novel by Jim Perotta, takes the scandal and mudslinging associated with presidential elections and transposes them to a high... Director Alexander (Citizen Ruth) Payne's second film, based on the novel by Jim Perotta, takes the scandal and mudslinging associated with presidential elections and transposes them to a high school election for student council president in Nebraska- with impossibly sharp, satirical results. Matthew Broderick, in a reversal of Ferris Bueller, plays Jim McAllister, a teacher who will stop at nothing to prevent perfect Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon), who is running unopposed, from winning the election. Jim, who bears a personal grudge against Tracy, goads a popular but dim football player into running against her. This spurs on a series strange events, (both madcap and surprisingly sexual) which add up to an uncommonly funny high school film for grown ups. Performances are great all-around and Payne uses shifting-narration and a series of freeze frames which give the film a rich and layered feel. [More]

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Matthew Broderick, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Matthew Broderick, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell, Mark Harelik, Phil Reeves

Director: Alexander Payne

Director: Alexander Payne
Screenwriter: Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Producer: Albert Berger, David Gale, Keith Samples, Ron Yerxa, Rolfe Kent

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Reviews for Election

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Sight and Sound | comment Comment
03/05/02
Geoffrey Macnab
Geoffrey Macnab
Sight and Sound

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Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/01/00
Empire Magazine
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Full Review Source: UK Critic | comment Comment
01/01/00
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
UK Critic

Took the sleaze of the teen comedy and spun it into something that's both hugely entertaining and extremely insightful.

Full Review Source: Movie Views | comment Comment
02/03/09
Ryan Cracknell
Ryan Cracknell
Movie Views

A funny and horrifying allegory of American politics and adult society, as seen through the prism--or shall we say "prison"?--that is secondary education. [Blu-ray]

Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | comment Comment
01/21/09
Peter Canavese
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews

Maybe its only real fault is that it's a little too close to the truth to be as funny as it could be.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
01/15/09
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

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Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Mark Halverson
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review

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Full Review Source: Mike Bracken's Horror Films | comment Comment
11/17/07
Mike Bracken
Mike Bracken
Mike Bracken's Horror Films

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Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
08/25/07
Boston Globe
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The script, based on a Tom Perrotta novel, is tight and elegant.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
07/30/07
Rob Gonsalves
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

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Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
07/14/07
Joe Lozito
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

...a surprisingly compelling piece of work..

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
07/23/06
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

Kudos to Payne and Taylor for their courage, balance, and humor.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
05/26/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
N/R

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Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
02/18/06
Derek Elley
Derek Elley
Variety
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Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
07/21/05
Houston Chronicle
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
05/18/05
Hollywood Reporter
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
04/09/05
Robin Clifford
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

Those who watch this film now are going to experience it as a more powerful socio-political commentary than the audiences in 1999.

Full Review Source: Draxblog Movie Reviews | comment Comment
03/16/05
Dragan Antulov
Dragan Antulov
Draxblog Movie Reviews
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Election

August 23, 2006: More Comedians Invited to "Chuck & Larry's" Wedding
If your movie already has Adam Sandler marrying Kevin James, and a side order of Jessica Biel for desert, what more do you need to make a comedy? Oh yeah: Steve Buscemi and Dan... More...

July 15, 2005: Trailer Bulletin: Pretty Persuasion
One of Sundance's more buzzed-about films was the dark high school comedy "Pretty Persuasion," and now you can check out the trailer over at Quicktime's Trailer Site.... More...

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