Review of Election (2005) by William H — 04 Oct 2009

Watched this for the first time in 10 years. This is a great great movie and one of the most successful political movies. The high school setting is misdirect, a means to an easier self-contained ecosystem in which to address politics.

I forgot how great a character Tracy Flick was, how everyone knows someone with a little a bit of Flick in her, the ruthless cold-blooded killer that lurks behind a thrusted-out cupcake. During Mr. M's interrogation of Flick in the third act, there is the only moment in the movie when Tracy takes off her mask in public as she asserts her dominance over Mr. M and shows her political leverage.

"I don't know what you're referring to, but maybe if certain older, wiser people hadn't acted like such little babies, and gotten so mushy, then everything would be ok... and I think certain older people, like you, and your colleague, shouldn't be leching after their students, especially when some of them can't even get their own wives pregnant..".

This switch-flicking scene should have sealed the deal for an oscar but there wasn't even a nomination. I think Amy Poehler's Hillary Clinton borrows heavily from Tracy Flick, or maybe Hillary herself is Tracy Flick. And I found myself laughing at her the most, just the delivery of her lines, how she said Mr. M, how she said "cupcake" with so much pre-meditated perk.