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Election

6.5

7,998

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Original title

Election

Year

1999

Running time

98 min.

Country

United States

Director

Alexander Payne

Screenwriter

Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor. Novel: Tom Perrotta

Cast

Music

Rolfe Kent

Cinematography

James Glennon

Producer

Paramount Pictures, MTV Films, Bona Fide

Genre

Comedy | Satire. Politics. Schools & University

Movie Groups

Tom Perrotta Adaptations

Synopsis

Reese Witherspoon plays Tracy Flick, a straight-A go-getter determined to be president of Carver Highs student body. Popular teacher Jim McAllister decides to derail Tracys obsessive overachieving by recruiting an opposition candidate. Mr. M. never imagines that stopping Tracy is like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube. Citizen Ruth director Payne once again tackles political processes, this time within a public high school. Running for school president is perky overachiever Witherspoon; her nemesis here is Broderick, as a teacher (not a Bueller) who looks for ways to defeat her (including pressuring a dim jock into the race). No one in this scattershot satire is safe, with teacher-student sex, budding lesbianism, campaign politics and perfectionist parents among the dozens of targets. It's completely hilarious, and even when the viciousness is shocking, it rings very true. Witherspoon once again shines as the public school equivalent of Rushmore's Max, but it's Broderick who's the revelation, playing the most complex and adult (if not exactly grown-up) part of his career. Election may not have Rushmore's lethal dose of comedic poison, but it's a damn funny, scintillating slap at the forces of comformity, cheer and good fortune.

Awards: 1999: Nominated for Oscar: Best Adapted Screenplay

1999: Nominated for Golden Globe: Best Actress of Comedy (Reese Witherspoon)

1999: National Board of Review: Reconocimiento Special

1999: New York Film Critics Circle: Best Screenplay

1999: Los Angeles Film Critics Association: New Generation Award. 2 Nominations

1999: Independent Spirit Awards: Best Film, Director & Screenplay. 5 Nominations

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User history

Election

1999

Alexander Payne

6.5

(7,998)