Review of Election (2005) by Grant S — 12 Jul 2017

Much like Network, Alexander Payne's satire of American politics devolved into a literal prophecy of what America was becoming. A clever criticism of both Republican and Democratic parties, with a wild card third party, Election should be required viewing not just by politicians - but by all people who fancy themselves intelligent voters. To date, Payne's least subtle film is still surprisingly his best. Later works, with the exception of Sideways, focused on adapting to midlife maturity with detached patriotism and a defeatist sense of humor. Election, for its time and still today, remains a marvelous comic book that skewered stereotypes and made a greater point about petty bipartisan feuding. All that aside, I still loved this movie because I consider it an unofficial sequel to Ferris Buehler, one where the little stinker gets his comeuppance.

I'm sure cinema purists will fault me for leaving off Hannibal Lector and The Silence of the Lambs, but I was much more terrified by an over-achieving, duplicitous high school girl in Alexander Payne's "Election" than I was at a hammy, cannibalizing version of Richard Burton. Payne's movies eschew messages in favor of dark satire, but they are filled to the brim with social commentary. Tracy Flick is the ideal United States politician. Motivated, self-aggrandizing, manipulative-and now, unfortunately, completely in control of your life. Bonus points for humbling the once great and deliciously villainous Ferris Bueller, this time reincarnated as Matthew Broderick's poor and underachieving school teacher Jim McAllister. Comeuppance is a bitch, ain't she?