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Movies / Upcoming / Election
Election

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Election (1999)

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93 %
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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

US Box Office: $0

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; Australian critics are listed first)
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
01/01/00
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top 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

Click to read the article

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

Click to read the article

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out
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Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
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
N/R

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Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
02/21/04
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
05/20/03
Jim Shelby
Jim Shelby
Palo Alto Weekly
 
 
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Latest News for Election

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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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