Election

( 8 )

Overview

In this satirical comedy, a hotly contested high school election becomes a metaphor for the current state of American politics. Jim McAllister Matthew Broderick is a popular and well-respected instructor at George Washington Carver High School in Omaha, Nebraska, but lately he's been unhappy in both his personal and professional life, and his anxieties finally come to a head with the school's student elections. Tracy Flick Reese Witherspoon is running for student body president, and she certainly seems like the ...
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Overview

In this satirical comedy, a hotly contested high school election becomes a metaphor for the current state of American politics. Jim McAllister Matthew Broderick is a popular and well-respected instructor at George Washington Carver High School in Omaha, Nebraska, but lately he's been unhappy in both his personal and professional life, and his anxieties finally come to a head with the school's student elections. Tracy Flick Reese Witherspoon is running for student body president, and she certainly seems like the sort of girl who would win a high school election -- she's pretty, popular and takes part in all the right extra-curricular activities. In fact, she seems so perfect she's running unopposed, which offends McAllister's sense of democracy not to mention the fact he doesn't like her very much. So Jim intervenes and persuades Paul Metzler Chris Klein to run against Tracy. Paul is not terribly bright and is entirely unqualified to be student president, but as a star of the school's football team before a leg injury sidelined him, he's popular enough to at least give Tracy a run for her money. Just as the race begins to heat up, a spanner is truly thrown into the works when Paul's sister, Tammy Jessica Campbell announces she's also running for office. Publicly, Tammy's platform is that the student elections are ultimately pointless and if she's elected, she'll eliminate them altogether. Privately, Tammy is out for revenge against her brother; it seems Tammy is experimenting with her sexuality, and a recent fling with a bisexual classmate named Lisa Frankie Ingrassia ended when Lisa dumped her to start going out with Paul. Based on the novel by Tom Perrotta, Election was directed by Alexander Payne, who won enthusiastic reviews for his debut feature, Citizen Ruth; Payne also co-wrote the screenplay with Jim Taylor.
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Lucia Bozzola
A satire of electoral and scholastic politics, Election may have been set in high school but it was not just another teen movie. Directed and co-scripted by Alexander Payne with the same even-handed sharpness as his comically incendiary debut Citizen Ruth (1996), Election's contest between Type-A student overachiever Tracy Flick and resentful civics teacher Jim McCallister delves into the behavioral minutiae ruling the ultimate popularity contest, presaging the deviousness and inertia that define national politics. Superbly cast as the anti-Ferris Bueller, Matthew Broderick is deceptively nice as the schlub teacher who hates the student destined to power herself out of Omaha (even as he finds her attractive). Reese Witherspoon's Tracy may be a monster, but Payne and co-writer Jim Taylor wisely reveal how the balance of power against the less privileged (and female) fuels her sociopathic drive. Jessica Campbell's astutely anarchic teen lesbian, however, provides the electoral coup de grace. Hailed for its excellent performances, expert pacing, and humor both broad and subtle, Election received several critics' prizes and an Oscar nomination for Payne and Taylor's screenplay, but failed to convert some of the best reviews of the year into equally outstanding box office popularity.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 3/7/2000
  • UPC: 097363340300
  • Original Release: 1999

    • Rating:

  • Source: PARAMOUNT
  • Presentation: Spanish / Subtitled
  • Language: Español
  • Format: VHS

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Matthew Broderick Jim McAllister
Reese Witherspoon Tracy Flick
Chris Klein Paul Metzler
Jessica Campbell Tammy Metzler
Mark Harelik Dave Novotny
Phil Reeves Walt Hendricks
Molly Hagan Diane McAllister
Delaney Driscoll Linda Novotny
Colleen Camp Barbara Flick
Frankie Igrassia Lisa Flanagan
Matt Malloy Vice Principal Ron Bell
Jeanine Jackson Jo Metzler
Holmes Osborne Dick Metzler
Jeannie Brayman Faculty Ballot-Giver
Jillian Crane Jillian
Nick D'Agosto Larry Fouch
James Devney Motel Clerk
Amy Falcone Classroom Student
Matt Golden Kid in Georgetown Hall
Matt Justesen "Eat Me" Boy
Larry Kaiser Chemistry Teacher
Heather Koenig Kid in Georgetown Hall
Jonathan Marion Classroom Student
Emily Martin Girl in Crisis
Loren Nelson Custodian
Nick Kenny "Eat Me" Boy's Buddy
L. Carmen Novoa Spanish Teacher
Jason Paige Kid in Georgetown Hall
Joel Parks Jerry Slavin
Marilyn Tipp Carver Office Lady
Brian Tobin Adult Video Actor
David Wenzel Tracy's Friend Eric
Christa Young Adult Video Actress
Technical Credits
Alexander Payne Director, Screenwriter
Jon Ailetcher Sound/Sound Designer
Dondi Bastone Musical Direction/Supervision
Lisa Beach Casting
Albert Berger Producer
Jim Burke Co-producer
Wendy Chuck Costumes/Costume Designer
Renee Davenport Set Decoration/Design
David Gale Producer
David Gale Producer
James Glennon Cinematographer
Rolfe Kent Score Composer
T.K. Kirkpatrick Art Director
George Parra Asst. Director
Jacobus Rose Co-producer
Keith Samples Producer
Jane Ann Stewart Production Designer
Jim Taylor Screenwriter
Kevin Tent Editor
Van Toffler Executive Producer
Ron Yerxa Producer
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 8 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(3)

4 Star

(2)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(2)

1 Star

(0)

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Sort by: Showing all of 8 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A Twisted Comedy

    Broderick and Witherspoon deliver as two disturbed, obsessed individuals. When their paths cross, it leads to the moral and professional disintegration of Broderick's character.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Awesome Political Film!

    This movie is among the funniest and most informative political films ever made! You will not be disappointed by it!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    awesome and hilarious!!!

    this movie was so funny! chris klienwas awesome. i thought the whole plot about this movie was that tracey was competing to beat paul in the election. she went physcho in the movie and ripped up all of paul's posters. i laughed histarically at that scene!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    An.............interesting movie?

    childish and stupid in a funny way.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 30, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 13, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 26, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted August 1, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 8 Customer Reviews