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MOVIES / ON DVD / ELECTION
Election

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Election (1999)

93%
94%
85%
N/A
N/A
N/A
93 %
Reviews Counted: 81 Fresh: 75  Rotten:6 Average Rating: 7.7/10
 
Consensus: Election successfully combines dark humor and intelligent writing in this very witty and enjoyable film.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins

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 school election for student council president in Nebraska- with impossibly sharp, satirical... 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]

Genre: Comedies

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

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

DVD Info

Release:

Oct 19, 1999

[DVD Details]

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Reviews

 
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4/5

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11/17/07
Mike Bracken
Mike Bracken's Horror Films
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3/4

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08/25/07
Boston Globe
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
5/5

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

Full Review | comment Comment
07/30/07
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
Ratings Image
3.5/4

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Full Review | comment Comment
07/14/07
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
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3/4

...a surprisingly compelling piece of work..

Full Review | comment Comment
07/23/06
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Ratings Image
N/A

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

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

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02/18/06
Derek Elley
Variety
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N/R

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01/26/06
Time Out
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3.5/5

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12/06/05
Film Threat
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N/R

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07/21/05
Houston Chronicle
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N/R

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05/18/05
Hollywood Reporter
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N/R

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04/09/05
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews
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7/10

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 | comment Comment
03/16/05
Dragan Antulov
Draxblog Movie Reviews
N/R

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02/21/04
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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3.5/4

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05/20/03
Jim Shelby
Palo Alto Weekly
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4/5

A sordid and savory dark comedy. Broderick is the flipside of his Ferris Beuller persona. Reese Witherspoon captures so perky you could strangle her to perfection.

comment Comment
03/21/03
Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com
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4/5

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02/08/03
John R. McEwen
Film Quips Online
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A

Blends deft human observation, solidly realized characters and a few slightly domesticated moments of shock humor [to create] a comedy as rich and winning as it is offbeat.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/07/03
Brent Simon
Entertainment Today
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3.5/5

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12/08/02
Film Threat
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5/5

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11/07/02
James Rocchi
Netflix
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