Election (1999)

This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

So much average

best movie i've ever seen.

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

A high school teacher who was always talking about morals and ethics should not have ended being such a failure.The movie was pointless and there is no moral at the end. In addition, I could not find any point to laugh at, either, so it should not be categorized under comedy genre.

There is a layer of earnestness underneath the comic satire that is Election, and it is something that I did not initially pick up on. The stock high school comedy characters all all here; the hyperactive know it all student, the dumb quarterback, the moody depressed teen, the nerds, the creepy teacher. At first I found it hilarious that the teacher's face would be the one crumpled up in tears (and there is a great bit of misdirection with the loopy handwritten love note), but also surprising that the roles had been reversed and the adult had becomes the perceived victim (later we learn that Dave was a frequent bed wetter, even more prominently displaying this theme). But we trust what is supposedly Broderick's character, the good natured history teacher Jim, because his voice-over sounds so soothing, so mature. The slight of hand is gradual. Opposing him we have the bane of every teacher's existence, the enthusiastic Tracy Enid Flick, who busts up and down and on the spot at every question, hand firmly thrust up in the air. As if that was not annoying enough, it's even suggested that Jim blames her for seducing his former best friend, and is anxious that he is her next target, which is visualised by these seductive whispers in his mind, and speaks a lot more of him than her. Another technique that Payne likes to use is the sudden freeze frame, which warps Tracy's facial mannerisms into something ugly and demeaning, no doubt the same process that is churning away in Jim's mind, and dismissed her speech. Reese Witherspoon's performance is perfect - she toes the line between enthusiastic and annoying, but that line itself is warped from Broderick's perspective, and little actions become large annoyances. The screenplay is based on Tom Perrotta's novel, but Payne's vision is so much more appropriate for showing us just how lively these characters are. When Tracy first discovers Paul's campaign for student council, the soundtrack flares up like some Spaghetti Western with Morricone's Navajo Joe, and it is clear just how little she is used to being challenged, and Witherspoon's voice-over and the music both speed up in intensity as her angers grows. The same soundtrack later slows to a grinding halt as Jim proposes the widow Linda, and we like her are incredulous that our good guy image has been shattered. Broderick's stupid little grin is telling; he shoots for the little pleasures, and daydreams incessantly - in a green-screen sequence, he imagines himself driving a luxury Italian car, before the graceful backing track stops as he steps out onto the school parking lot. And on the pivotal election day, the music is once again key, the slow beats of the bass drum providing tension that would not be out of place before a large scale battle in some war film. Tracy seems to think so. We have the naivety of the teenagers pronounced via voice-over, with a complete sincerity that makes it funny but also a bit sad; Tracy insisting that she does not miss a father figure before perfectly describing one in Dave, Tammy musing on how she's not a lesbian even though every single one of her love interests have been female, Paul's various good natured ramblings about others and the gift of his penis...and of course his monotone, face- down speech delivered without an ounce of showmanship that Tracy possesses, but which Jim eagerly applauds anyway. And after it all? He is barely affected by the whole ordeal and has an awesome senior year. An early scene has Jim absent-mindedly tossing the food of his colleagues out of the teacher's fridge, with even less care for where it lands, splattering sauce onto the floor as the janitor shakes his head. Later, the same janitor is part of the visual assault on Jim as the cuts between their dead-straight stares speedily bore into Jim's conscience. Election's triumph is that it almost manages to make us feel a little for him; the breakdown of his marriage, the bee sting, the fury at Tracy's little celebration victory dance. And as he narrates his new life at the close, his happiness at being an educator, the new woman, and the modest yet lovable apartment, we think he is well adjusted, and content, and we are instinctively drawn to movie endings like this one. And he almost manages to fool us with his voice-over, his disappearance of contempt for Tracy Enid Flick. And for what? For tearing down a poster and denying it? For aiming further and higher than Jim will ever experience? His crusade becomes so sad and funny as he flees the scene, but I'm sure in his mind he has won.

Election is cynical, satirical and sarcastic. Everything you can wonder about a teacher as a student comes true in this comedy, which lacks comedy (or at least any memorable moments). However, what it lacks in laughs it more than makes up for in the overall story. A story about revenge, discipline and role models; Election is just one of those films you can relate heavily to.The problems that surround Election are almost counteracted by the good. Whilst labeled as a comedy, it more or less passes for a coming of age drama with satirical undertones, but nonetheless, Election is as honest as it can get.

Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) is an overachieving Type A personality. Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) is the conscientious civics teacher. His best friend and fellow teacher Dave Novotny gets into serious trouble having an affair with Tracy. Dave loses his job and his marriage. Tracy is an only child and running unopposed in the class president election. Jim convinces rich popular football player Paul Metzler (Chris Klein) to run against her after his injury sidelines him. Paul's sister Tammy gets too obsessed with girlfriend Lisa. Lisa breaks up with her by having sex with Paul. That drives Tammy to run in the election against her older brother.This is a hilarious black comedy from Alexander Payne. Reese is so aggressively aggressive. She is absolutely brilliant. Chris Klein is also funny as the clueless jock. Broderick is sometimes on and off. He's not quite as funny in comparison. He's more in the pathetic area. I prefer the hilarity of the younger kids.