# Election (1999)

### reviewed by
Nathaniel R. Atcheson

    Election (1999)
    A Capsule Review by Nathaniel R. Atcheson

Director: Alexander Payne Cast: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell, Mark Harelik, Phil reeves, Molly Hagan Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor Producers: Albert Berger, David Gale, Keith Samples, Ron Yerxa Runtime: 103 min. US Distribution: Paramount Rated R: Sex, language, drug use

Copyright 1999 Nathaniel R. Atcheson

It's hard to imagine a better political satire than Election, Alexander Payne's intelligent and genius follow-up to his 1996 film, Citizen Ruth. True, it's a story about a high school election, starring Reese Witherspoon presidential candidate Tracy Flick, and Matthew Broderick as Mr. McAllister, the teacher who hates her most. But Election serves not just as an acerbic attack on high school politics, but as an attack on politics in general (now I know what Hillary Clinton was like in high school). The film features four dead-on performances; Broderick and Witherspoon are both show masterful comic timing, but also give their characters depth. Chris Klein is wonderful as Paul Metzler, the big, stupid, lovable jock oaf who runs against Tracy; Jessica Campbell is also great as Paul's laconic, lesbian sister. But what really makes Election such a funny, touching, brilliant blast of a film is Payne's direction: he observes these people with such immaculate objectivity and seething irony that you can't help but like them all, even with their flaws. In short, Election is what satire is all about.

    Psychosis Rating: 9/10

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               Nathaniel R. Atcheson

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