Election

Rating:
Summary: Worst movie I've ever seen!!
Review: I've read so many good reviews about this movie and thought it would be another great Reese movie, but turns out it was BAD. The whole movie is weird and I didn't even get it. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!!

Rating:
Summary: "Who cares about this STUPID election?"
Review: At the start of "Election," Jim McAllister tells viewers how well his life is going. He's a dedicated and popular social studies teacher at Carver High School in Omaha, with a loving wife and a best friend on the faculty. By the film's end, Jim has been fired from his job, become a national laughingstock, been divorced by his wife for infidelity, and moved to New York City. Why? It all starts with Tracy Flick.

Tracy, played in career-defining fashion by Reese Witherspoon, is a running for student-government president at Carver. She's an odd mix of youthful naivete; barely suppressed resentment at slights both real and imagined; and a pure Machiavellian drive to succeed. She's also having an affair with Jim's math-teacher best friend Dave, whose extracurricular activities get him fired early in the movie.

Concerned about the effects of Tracy's reckless ambition and bitter over his friend Dave's firing, Jim develops an unhealthy obsession with her (the scene where Tracy appears in Jim's head while he's being intimate with his wife is one of the most consistently funny in movie history). Determined to halt Tracy's rise, Jim decides to recruit popular ex-jock Paul Metzler to oppose her in the election. Paul, brilliantly portrayed by Chris Klein, is everything Tracy isn't: innocent, wide-eyed, naive, and slow-witted, with a penchant for vacant stares and extremely stupid comments. Paul's lesbian sister Tammy also decides to enter the race, bitter over her brother's theft of a girl's affections.

What follows is one of the most brilliantly satirical movies I've had the pleasure of seeing. Although the central event of "Election" may be a high-school election, it might as well be a presidential race. Carver High becomes a microcosm for the world in general, with the election as the backdrop for a sordid tale of lust, betrayal, power, ambition, and resentment. Jim (is there any doubt that this is Matthew Broderick's best role?) may sound idealistic at the start of the movie, but by the end he's gotten dirtier than anyone else. In fact, out of the principal characters in the movie only Paul really comes out clean.

"Election" is, without a doubt, one of the most well-crafted comedies of recent years. Much like "The Simpsons" in its prime, the movie is brilliant in its vulgarity and unpredictability. The main characters are fully realized and realistic, and the actors (Klein especially) can wring laughs out of even the tiniest facial expression. The humor is often off-color, but never in a stupid teen-movie sort of way. "Election" is a reminder of how funny a movie can be when it relies on little things like wit and creativity. I try to be pretty careful with my five-star ratings, but "Election" would get a hundred out of a hundred from me.

Rating:
Summary: One of the most well rounded comedies in quite some time...
Review: "Election" is the type of movie that you thoroughly enjoy the first time you see it, and then you *have* to watch it if you are flipping through the channels and see it being played on cable.

Matthew Broderick plays Jim McCalister, well meaning but ultimately weak individual, who is in charge of the presidential election at G.W. Carver High School in Omaha, Nebraska. The election seems like a lock for ultimate overachiever Tracy Flick (Withersoon) until McCalister's resentment towards Flick inspires him to convince popular jock Paul (Chris Klein) to enter the race. From there, things take one hilarious turn after the next.

Great movies are those that tell a story in an interesting and unique way, and Director Alexander Payne does not fail to live up to this expectation. "Election" is a fascinating look at one character who has failed to create a fulfilling, successful life for himself (Broderick) and one character (Witherspoon) who is doing all she can to ensure she will have a fulfilling, successful life.

The DVD is great, with a nice, interesting commentary from Payne who explains a lot of the details that you may miss from viewing the film. Don't let the fact that this movie takes place in a high school fool you - this is an adult film that realistically captures high school life. The look of the film is great, and it's one of the few films that make places, people, and things look like REAL PEOPLE rather than sets, actors, and props.

The movie gets 5 stars; the DVD gets 4 1/2. While the commentary is great, Payne talks about scenes that were shot but not included in the film that would've been nice if they were included as a "Deleted Scenes" feature.

Rating:
Summary: Tracy Flick = Film Icon
Review: Ever meet people that claim to be 'big Reese Witherspoon fans...all the way back to Legally Blonde?' Love Reese, but never heard of 'Election.' What's up with that?

Well, this is the movie - and role - that made her. 'Legally Blonde' was 'green lighted' based on Witherspoon's performance here. Do you know her movie production company is called 'Type A Productions'? In 'Election,' she portrays the Type A prototype: Tracy Flick.

Okay, Matthew Broderick is really good here, and so are the others to a lesser extent. But this movie belongs to Witherspoon's Flick and director Alexander Payne. In other hands, this might have been a goofy teen comedy. But under Payne's excellent direction, it becomes a steel-eyed battle between Witherspoon and Broderick.

Once you've seen this movie, you find yourself identifying certain actions from others in your life as 'Tracy Flick behavior.' It gets a knowing laugh from anyone who has seen the film. Rent it today and get in on the joke.

Rating:
Summary: A superb black comedy.
Review: This was much better than my expectation. Maybe the Witherspoon's best film so far. Broderick's performace shines too.

Rating:
Summary: Reading, Writing, Revenge
Review: Obnoxious overachiever Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) is determined to be student body president although her lax history teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) eggs injured, slacker football player Paul Metzler (Chris Klein) on to compete against Tracy. Paul's lesbian sister Tammy (Jessica Campbell) campaigns for president as well. Of course, Tracy is outraged..."Election" is a very clever, witty, cynical film. Not everyone will enjoy this film, it's not your mediocre high school teen 'flick'...this has substance and the jokes are very dry and cynical. You must have a brain to enjoy this film. One of Reese's best performances!

Oh, the lengths that some people will go to win!

Rating:
Summary: "If You Try to Change Destiny, then Your Destined to Fail.."
Review: The film "Election" is a hilarious, sharp satire which pokes fun at politics in general and high school and suburban life in particular.In the film we meet high school teacher, Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick in one of his best roles)who is presiding over the Student Government elections. He's one of those teachers who is popular with the students and will always go, that extra mile to try to make a postive difference in their lives.That is until he meets up with Tracy Flick (well played by Reese Witherspoon),who is running unopposed for SGA president.Tracy has one of those really annoying Type-A personalities and will stop at nothing to get what she wants, no matter who she hurts. McAllister just cannot stand the thought of Tracy winning and the countless hours he will be forced to spend with her.He attempts to change destiny by recruiting a popular football quarterback (Chris Klien) to run against her. Things start to go haywire, when into the mix are thrown, the quaterback's anti-social lesbian sister, a horrible looking bee-sting and a supposed lustful affair. These are just a few of the components that seem to make up this "election from hell". Writer/director, Alexander Payne has crafted a well written comedy that turns politics and suburbia on its head.He makes fun of all the rules and regulations, which we blindly think are so important and in the end seem so stupid.He shows our society as one, where all the highly held morals and ethics seem to go out the window, real fast, when it suits us.The movie has a superb cast which really makes this sharp script come alive. Broderick and Witherspoon fit their roles to a T.There are also excellent supporting performances from actors Chris Klein and Jessica Campbell.We have all met these characters in our high school experiences and remember them well.For an evening of wonderful, satirical comedy get this movie!

Rating:
Summary: Nearly Flawless
Review: As the cover says "a nearly flawless movie". Absolutely! Election gets my vote for one of the best comedies of the 90's. It will make you laugh, cry and think! I'm a big fan of Reese Witherspoon, but the movie overall is fantastic because of the great cast. Rarely do i see a movie where I have so many favourite scenes (particularly the gym hall scene where each candidate speaks to the school). I just bought this movie on DVD, and it's a worthy addition. Matthew Broderick is also exceptionally good.

Rating:
Summary: Intelligent and smart -- not a formula movie
Review: The plot of this movie is, of course, about an election. However, the plot is not the point of the film. It's all about character analysis and perspectives.

Each character provides narratives that not only describe the predicaments they are in, but also about the other characters who, they believe, contributed to their predicaments. This not only allows one character to analyze another character, but forces each character to reveal something glaring about themselves that they cannot see. The movie effectively develops each character through the narratives and magnifies the characters through their actions. This is an intelligent and smart film.

Some other viewers found this movie boring. I can only assume that they like to watch the half-baked movies that always provide an expected ending with a love-match or a villain who gets his (or hers) in the end. Instead, Election provides an ending that is more true to life, and in some ways, as equally unsatisfying as reality sometimes is. Election asks, and perhaps answers the question, "Do any of us really end up with a destiny all that different than what others see for us upon graduation from high school?" How telling those high school years can be.

Each scene in Election has power and moves quickly. There are no slow moments. You will enjoy it!

Rating:
Summary: not that great
Review: I had heard some great things about election from friends so I was psyched when my friend let me borrow it. truth is its um not very good.. Its really weird and to me it was kinda depressing so do yourself a huge favor dont see it...