Election

Name: Election
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: April 23, 1999
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 83
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon

1999

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 33 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 222 Ratings

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8.9

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8.9	Your Score
8.9	User Score Universal acclaim based on 222 Ratings

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Election

Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: April 23, 1999

Starring: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon

Summary: This satirical comedy uses a high school election as the backdrop to take an uncommon look at ambition, morality, desire, love and the lies we never cease telling ourselves. [Paramount Pictures]

Director: Alexander Payne

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 103 min

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Awards & Rankings

13	#13 Best Movie of 1999
34	#34 Most Discussed Movie of 1999
46	#46 Most Shared Movie of 1999

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Washington Post - Desson Thomson

The satire of the season, a hilarious, razor-sharp indictment of the American Dream. Read full review

100

Washington Post - Stephen Hunter

A wonderful, piercing and hilarious examination of high school politics and how bitter and ruinous it can become. Read full review

Mr. Showbiz - Kevin Maynard

Election is a bracingly intelligent adult comedy that shrewdly captures adolescence.

Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert

Alexander Payne is a director whose satire is omnidirectional. He doesn't choose an easy target and march on it. He stands in the middle of his story and attacks on all directions. Read full review

Austin Chronicle - Marc Savlov

A fine, near-seamless film that finally suffers slightly from an inability to wrap up its tale. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine - Maitland McDonagh

Surprise! An intelligent, well-written high school story. Read full review

TNT RoughCut - Christopher Brandon

Dumb, dumb, dumb.

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User Reviews

TylerDurden900

Jul 13, 2014

Election is a spot on movie about elections, characters and black comedy mixed in for fun. The actors
give great lines and they feel like their the character's, they don't seem like they are acting when you watch the movie. Election is one of the best comedy-dramas of the last twenty years !

12 of 13 users found this helpful121

smartmart

Sep 17, 2015

This has got to be one of the greatest movies I've ever seen. It is a very darkly comedic satire that looks into some pretty tough subjects for a high school comedy. But, "Election" isn't really just a high school comedy, it is a look at a set of character who are, mostly, pretty patheticThis has got to be one of the greatest movies I've ever seen. It is a very darkly comedic satire that looks into some pretty tough subjects for a high school comedy. But, "Election" isn't really just a high school comedy, it is a look at a set of character who are, mostly, pretty pathetic people, who you both despise yet feel very bad for at the same time.
Alexander Payne has gone on to make a lot more well received comedy dramas including "Sideways", The Descendants", and "Nebraska". I still have yet to see these films, but after watching "election", I'm sure they'll be spectacular!… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

Greatbeallo

Feb 19, 2012

This movie is so great and unique! I am not particularly fond of Matthew Broderick, and he is really detestable in this movie, but he plays a douche bag to perfection. Reese Witherspoon is also on point. Seriously, this movie is an unusual treat. I can't really compare it to anything else IThis movie is so great and unique! I am not particularly fond of Matthew Broderick, and he is really detestable in this movie, but he plays a douche bag to perfection. Reese Witherspoon is also on point. Seriously, this movie is an unusual treat. I can't really compare it to anything else I have seen.… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

RobertBrogan

Sep 30, 2015

Election is the type of satire where one is more likely to wince than laugh. It is a bit dark and edgy and is reminiscent of American Beauty. The performances are good, though a bit overwrought. Election, while not thoroughly enjoyable, is a still a remarkable film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Compi24

Feb 7, 2014

Acerbic humor and subtly brilliant performances highlight Alexander Payne's "Election," a brilliantly dark film with mirthfully unlikable characters and some playfully indelible imagery.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

amheretojudge

Feb 10, 2019

Voting Without Any Care.

Election Payne writes like a twelve year old boy does in his personal diary. Without any care of the structure or grammar, he just writes, honestly. He blatantly spits out all the emotions in layman terms, so free and so simple in his command over the film, that heVoting Without Any Care.

Election

Payne writes like a twelve year old boy does in his personal diary. Without any care of the structure or grammar, he just writes, honestly. He blatantly spits out all the emotions in layman terms, so free and so simple in his command over the film, that he moves everyone with it. His knack of projecting the tiniest aspect of the novel that he is adapting from, thrusts the entire film to a busy environment that you cannot help but get engaged in it. Somewhat Scorsese-like in his methods, his film is hilariously smart. The observational comedy is his approach and the result is basically a riot of laughter.

There is sincerity in each scene of the film and there are aplenty in here, he takes care of all the perspective and with a stable pace, he drives smoothly off the town like a sheriff. This illuminating satire of social and political world that we neglect every now and then, is one of the quirkiest and strongest film to set in a college field. Witherspoon, committing in her sassy-ness brings out a gutsy hatred towards her from us every time she speaks and that is her real win. The annoyance and eye scratching body language of hers shows powerful finesse on her acting.

Klein and Campbell- the Metzlers- are completely opposite to Witherspoon, they are adorable and instantly likable on screen, although their performance isn't as convincing as Witherspoon. Broderick is the victim, the character for pity and to be rooted, often fumbling and wrong in his decisions, he humanizes the character through slick humor on being the butt of the joke; something not everyone is able to pull off on a screen. Election is exactly like the real ones, sugar coated in a college life it attracts the viewer to this not-so-absorbing concept with open arms.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Jan 25, 2015

Election is certainly a very well made and very entertaining little flick (heh) with some great acting from Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon, but I don't know, I just didn't love it. Alexander Payne's direction is great as always and this one is a very interesting film on the ethicsElection is certainly a very well made and very entertaining little flick (heh) with some great acting from Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon, but I don't know, I just didn't love it. Alexander Payne's direction is great as always and this one is a very interesting film on the ethics of how far one will go to have success and, above all, is an interesting snapshot of life at this particular high school and in the lives of these kids. The writing is also strong, but ultimately, I just felt like this one meandered a bit. All of it is an exercise in ethics and morals, sure, but I wish it stayed more focused on the election rather than focusing on the personal life of Broderick's character or past events at the school. Adding a bit more depth to the race for Student Government President and disregarding other events a bit would ultimately result in a better film in my mind (though obviously some of the events I wish to shrink are necessary, but I don't think they needed to play as much of a role in the overall story as they did). As a whole, I can certainly see why Election is so widely praised, but I just didn't love it, I guess.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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