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Election

Election

Comedy · Drama · 1999

A high school teacher meets his match in an over-arching student politician.

Movie details

Election

“Reading. Writing. Revenge.”

1999 Comedy · Drama 1h 43m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.9 / 10

Community rating

A high school teacher meets his match in an over-arching student politician.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Election?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Rushmore

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Comedy · 1998

When a beautiful first-grade teacher arrives at a prep school, she soon attracts the attention of an ambitious teenager named Max, who quickly falls in love with her. Max turns to the father of two of his schoolmates for advice on how to woo the teacher. However, the situation soon gets complicated when Max's new friend becomes involved with her, setting the two pals against one another in a war for her attention.

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club

Comedy · 1985

Five high school students from different walks of life endure a Saturday detention under a power-hungry principal. The disparate group includes rebel John, princess Claire, outcast Allison, brainy Brian and Andrew, the jock. Each has a chance to tell his or her story, making the others see them a little differently -- and when the day ends, they question whether school will ever be the same.

Blame

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Drama · 2018

A drama teacher's taboo relationship with an unstable student strikes a nerve in her jealous classmate, sparking a vengeful chain of events within their suburban high school that draws parallels to "The Crucible".

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Although Brad has a satisfying career, a sweet wife and a comfortable life in suburban Sacramento, things aren't quite what he imagined during his college glory days. When he accompanies his musical prodigy son on a university tour, he can't help comparing his life with those of his four best college friends who seemingly have more wealthy and glamorous lives. But when circumstances force him to reconnect with his former friends, Brad begins to question whether he has really failed or if their lives are actually more flawed than they appear.

Art School Confidential

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...All the Marbles

...All the Marbles

Comedy · 1981

A two-bit promoter tries to take a women's wrestling team to the top.

Irresistible

Irresistible

Comedy · 2020

A Democratic political consultant helps a retired Marine colonel run for mayor in a small, conservative Wisconsin town.

Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Alexander Payne

Written by

Alexander Payne · Jim Taylor

Matthew Broderick

Matthew Broderick

Jim McAllister

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon

Tracy Enid Flick

Chris Klein

Chris Klein

Paul Metzler

Jessica Campbell

Jessica Campbell

Tammy Metzler

Mark Harelik

Mark Harelik

Dave Novotny

Phil Reeves

Phil Reeves

Walt Hendricks

Molly Hagan

Molly Hagan

Diane McAllister

Court is in session

Put Election on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.