Election (1999)

Director:

Alexander Payne

Writers (WGA):

Tom Perrotta (novel)
Alexander Payne (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

7 May 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Reading, Writing, Revenge.

Plot:

A high school teacher's personal life becomes complicated as he works with students during the school elections.

Plot Keywords:

Election | School | Lesbian | High School | Jock

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 16 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Matthew Broderick	...	Jim McAllister
Reese Witherspoon	...	Tracy Flick
Chris Klein	...	Paul Metzler
Jessica Campbell	...	Tammy Metzler
Phil Reeves	...	Walt Hendricks
Molly Hagan	...	Diane McAllister
Delaney Driscoll	...	Linda Novotny
Mark Harelik	...	Dave Novotny
Colleen Camp	...	Judith R. Flick
Frankie Ingrassia	...	Lisa Flanagan
Joel Parks	...	Jerry Slavin
Matt Malloy	...	Vice-Principal Ron Bell
Holmes Osborne	...	Dick Metzler
Jeanine Jackson	...	Jo Metzler
Loren Nelson	...	Custodian

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, sex-related dialogue and language, and a scene of drug use.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #36129) | Finland:K-12 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Norway:15 (TV rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:12 | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere)

Filming Locations:

Adelphi University, Garden City, Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

Bona Fide Productions

Trivia:

Reese Witherspoon's portrayal of Tracy Flick was voted as the 45th Greatest Movie Performances of All Time by Premiere Magazine.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: In the last scene Jim McAllister is in Washington, DC. He says in the voice-over he was on his way to the Holocaust Museum when the scene occurred. That scene was shot outside the Hays-Adams Hotel, just north of Lafayette Square and the White House. The Holocaust Museum is about a mile south of the White House.

Quotes:

Tammy Metzler: [narrating] Being suspended is like getting a paid vacation. Why do they think it's a punishment? It's like your dog pees on the carpet and you give him a treat. Then you get in trouble for skipping school, it's sooo stupid! Hendricks told me, "One more time" and I'd be expelled. Sounded good to me.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Best! Movies! Ever!: Hot for Teacher (#1.21)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Foxey Lady

Alexander Payne's uncompromising look at highschool politics. Foul-mouthed, sharp and funny

With me, Alexander Payne can do no wrong. Before he entered Hollywood's big league of directors with ABOUT SCHMIDT and SIDEWAYS, he made this remarkable film about a highschool election. But this is hardly your average highschool flick, this is an intelligently written, foul-mouthed film, filled with colorful characters and plenty of laughs in the process.

In a pitch-perfect role, Reese Witherspoon is Tracy Flick, one of those irritating girls that are always in the front row, always raise their hand and wanna do something for the sake of the school, read, for their own resume. Tracy Flick is one of those, a fiercely calculating careerist who will stop at nothing to get the main prize, the office of student body president at Carver High. Since she's running unopposed, nothing seems in her way at getting what she wants, again. History teacher and student government adviser Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick, Ferris Bueller reversed) seems content with his life, but is worn out by his love-less marriage, and by the plight of his best friend and colleague, sacked for sleeping with consenting but under age Tracy Flick. With the coming elections, McAllister is appalled by the prospect of working closely with this little nagging career bitch, and charged with overseeing the proceedings, discreetly sponsors a rival candidate, dumb but popular jock Paul Metzler (Chris Klein), to enter the election. But when Paul's sister Tammy (Jessica Campbell), an embittered and unpopular girl announces her candidacy, the election becomes a really back-biting and nasty affair, with Jim McAllister getting more than he bargained for.

I think this film might appeal even more to adults than teenagers. If you like Alexander Payne's uncompromising approach to his subjects, this will definitely be up your alley, with everything from lesbianism to adultery thrown in the mix. Ideally casted all the way, with Matthew Broderick, after a number of uninteresting roles in lame movies, really making his mark. He gives his role a sort of understatement that makes Mr. McAllister a hopelessly tragic, but utterly lovable loser.

Camera Obscura --- 9/10