A high school teacher meets his match in an over-achieving student politician.A high school teacher meets his match in an over-achieving student politician.A high school teacher meets his match in an over-achieving student politician.
- Director
- Writers
- Tom Perrotta(novel)
- Alexander Payne(screenplay)
- Jim Taylor(screenplay)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Tom Perrotta(novel)
- Alexander Payne(screenplay)
- Jim Taylor(screenplay)
- Stars
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 16 wins & 34 nominations total
Videos1
- Director
- Writers
- Tom Perrotta(novel)
- Alexander Payne(screenplay)
- Jim Taylor(screenplay)
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
- All cast & crew
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn the text of a newspaper article in the film: "If you've paused the film in order to read this entire article, your time would be better spent renting Citizen Ruth (1996) from your local video store. Do you know how hard it is to write these fake few stories for newspaper movie props? I've got better things to do."
- GoofsWhen Tracy is setting up her table in the beginning of the movie, she opens five legs on a four-legged table. However, this is clearly deliberate, a symbol of her over-achievement.
- Quotes
Tammy Metzler: [narrating] It's not like I'm a lesbian or anything. I'm attracted to the person. It's just that all the people I've been attracted to happen to be girls.
- Crazy creditsFilm title logo appears when end credits are finished.
- SoundtracksThe Jody Grind
Written by Horace Silver
Performed by Quintetto X
Courtesy of Instinct Records
By Arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group
Top review
Cynical - just the way I like them!
This is quite simply one of the finest movies I have ever seen. It has incredible pace and flair, with both the script and the direction demanding equal attention. And it just works so well on so many levels. Whilst it is a political satire, it also stands well as a story in its own right. It's great to see Matthew Broderick in a good film. Reese Witherspoone turns in what I consider to be a career-best, and Chris Klein is wonderfully endearing as a jock with a heart of gold.
What I really love about Election is the way its pace doesn't let up at all. By the time you've finished you feel like you've seen a good two and a half hours of movie. It's the only film I know that seems longer than it is in a good way.
This film made me laugh out loud more than any other I can remember that isn't just a dumb comedy. But Election also doesn't take itself too seriously. The direction can accurately be described as deadpan - with Chris Klein, stripped of his ability to play football, gazing soulfully out to sea, and falling asleep over a book on philosophy. The way that each major character is afforded a voice-over, giving us an amusing insight into their psyche, is a wonderful technique, and the freezeframes of Reese Witherspoone's contorted facial expressions truly are moments to treasure.
What more can I say? Election is smart, funny, and biting. It maintains its brilliance for the entire duration of the movie, and the ending is wholly satisfying. In fact, I can't actually think of one word of criticism. You'll have to search long and hard to find a better film anywhere, which is why I'm giving it a stellar nine out of ten.
What I really love about Election is the way its pace doesn't let up at all. By the time you've finished you feel like you've seen a good two and a half hours of movie. It's the only film I know that seems longer than it is in a good way.
This film made me laugh out loud more than any other I can remember that isn't just a dumb comedy. But Election also doesn't take itself too seriously. The direction can accurately be described as deadpan - with Chris Klein, stripped of his ability to play football, gazing soulfully out to sea, and falling asleep over a book on philosophy. The way that each major character is afforded a voice-over, giving us an amusing insight into their psyche, is a wonderful technique, and the freezeframes of Reese Witherspoone's contorted facial expressions truly are moments to treasure.
What more can I say? Election is smart, funny, and biting. It maintains its brilliance for the entire duration of the movie, and the ending is wholly satisfying. In fact, I can't actually think of one word of criticism. You'll have to search long and hard to find a better film anywhere, which is why I'm giving it a stellar nine out of ten.
helpful•13244
- AsharaDayme
- Feb 20, 2000
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $25,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $14,902,041
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $119,080
- Apr 25, 1999
- Gross worldwide
- $14,902,041
- Runtime1 hour 43 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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