In my opinion, 1999 was the second-best year in Hollywood history, behind 1939. There were so many now iconic films that came out during that time, such as Magnolia, Being John Malkovich, The Sixth Sense, Fight Club, and The Insider, among others. But one that I usually gravitate often is brilliant director Alexander Payne’s Oscar-nominated satire Election.
Matthew Broderick plays Mr. Jim McAllister, a very respected high school government teacher in Nebraska (Payne’s hometown), who finds that overachieving student Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon, in a signature role) is willing to get down and dirty to become the new student president. So, he convinces dim-witted but popular student Paul (Chris Klein) to run against her. Then when Paul’s lesbian sister Tammy (the late Jessica Campbell) decides to run in the election, that’s when things really go crazy.
Election remains one of those gems that continues to age very well because it reveals some rather inconvenient truths about politics and the broken promises that many politicians make before they swoop in and screw it up with their own egos and hidden agendas. The same can be applied for how warped high school politics are, where promises are made but never kept.
It’s also a testament to Payne’s gift for capturing humanity at its worst and most complex. His dialogue is sharp, incisive, and honest. He’s not afraid to take the audience down pretty uncomfortable territory, which makes Election one of his best and most accessible films.
Making its Paramount Presents 4K debut, the release may not sound as enticing as the Criterion one, but for those who have a 4K UHD player, they’ll probably get something out of it. The special features include vintage commentary by Payne and a few featurettes.
Other releases:
In & Out (Kino): Kevin Kline stars in the 1997 classic comedy as a teacher who questions his sexuality after a former student (Matt Dillon) outs him during an Oscars telecast.
The First Omen: A disturbing prequel to the 1976 horror classic about a young American woman who comes to Rome to begin service to the church but encounters a darkness that causes her to question her faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil.
The Sadness (Vinegar Syndrome): A gross and grisly horror flick about a young couple trying to stay alive in a city ravaged by a plague that turns its victims into deranged, bloodthirsty sadists.
