Election

When Alexander Payne released his The Descendants(2011) last December, there was a lot of buzz around him finally getting a movie made 7 years after Sideways(2004). I understand the excitement and all, especially because a notable director coming back from long hiatus, but I just couldn't get on bandwagon only since I had never seen an Alexander Payne movie by then. Even this year, similar scenario occurred for Moonrise Kingdom(2012) - Oh Yeah, Just kill me already !! I have never seen a Wes Anderson movie and even though based on the trailer alone, I still think it is a nice premise and from the early buzz, it might be worth checking out which I am sure I will eventually, but the point is I did not feel the heat for it. Getting back to Alexander Payne - So, The Descendants was my first Payne and I loved it, I even put it in my Top 10 of the year and since then, I have been trying to see his movies whenever I can. I saw About Schmidt(2002) couple of months ago and thought it really was a heartfelt movie and loved seeing Jack Nicholson in little different role. I still haven't seen Sideways even though I own it - believe me it is one of the 3 incidents ever, other two being Dawn of the Dead(2004) which I finally saw last month after having it for over a year and Judgement at Nuremberg(1961) which I bought because I really wanted to see it for longest of times and still haven't seen for whatever reason but I promise I will see it this month.

So, the other day I saw Election(1999), another one of Alexander Payne movies and to tell you the truth, even though I enjoyed both The Descendants and About Schmidt, this definitely is his best yet !! I am almost sure that I am one of the last few unfortunate souls to watch it. So, I will not waste a lot of time and space giving the plot. But, if you are one of us - unfortunate souls, first of all, thanks for the company and second of all, I intend to discuss almost every aspect of the movie. So, move forward at your own risk. So, Written and Directed by Alexander Payne, just like the other two movies I have seen, if there is one aspect of the movie that does stand out in all three movies it's his writing. He definitely is a great director and I will get to that as well, but what makes Alexander Payne movies to stand out for me is his characters are always very authentic, very genuine. They always walk, talk, behave like normal people like us would and still somehow he makes them different. I might be stretching it out a little but for the fact that his writing always comes before his direction, I feel like comparing him to Billy Wilder - always a writer first. Look at the characters in Election. Now, look at Tracy Flick - she is our leading lady, so-called heroine we are suppose to root for but she isn't really a likable character, Jim McAllister is a real good teacher, even a decent fellow who also has a decent life off course until he tries to sleep with his best friend's divorced wife and tries to stop an ambitious student from taking over school just because he doesn't like her. And more importantly, I am sure that we have seen such characters in our own school life - an over-achiever, rather dumb but a popular guy who gets everything easily and a rebel without cause and they are pretty much exactly as they are portrayed here.

Based on Tom Perrota novel by same name, Election is a satirical comedy and is somehow supposed to reflect the contemporary state of politics as well. Now I won't get into Politics here. But, even if you take this allied association out of equation, you are still left with a story of how normally rational people can get on to the path of self destruction because of stupid grudges. Alexander Payne makes sure that each character gets his own arc properly. He takes his time to develop them, introduce them to us so that by the time they reach their eventual end, we not only enjoy this journey together but more often than not, agree to their destiny. Look at Paul Metzler here. He really isn't a bright guy, he definitely isn't Student President material. He is just a football player with a broken leg and a real nice heart, who loves his sister. He is really in this race because of only one reason - his teacher thinks Tracy is taking over the whole school and needs to be stopped and he is probably the only one who can stand any chance against her. All his characteristics are maintained throughout the movie, even when his own sister jumps in the ring against him, even in his prayers the night before election and even after he is taken down from the President's post in the end. Payne's characters are never under-developed nor do they take over all the time. Now for example take look at Tammy Metzler. This is a character which I think can be taken out from the film completely without doing a minimal damage to the whole story. But, not only is she added in the story to make it even more hilarious, she gets her own, complete arc - with Jennifer, she even gets a closure - and off course, she also has a sub-plot with her sexuality in question. Sid's character in The Descendants is another excellent example here.

Now let us talk about acting here as there are few amazing performances here !! Starting with Matthew Broderick. I haven't seen him in much except Ferris Bueller's Day off(1986) where also he gives a great performance. I have seen Glory(1989) but that was so long ago that I don't even remember half the actors in it. He does a great job here as Jim McAllister from his initial very affable, devoted teacher with a nice little family to someone who keeps on gathering dirt on his downward roll. And it is hilarious to see how he always convinces himself to think that he is doing the right thing, even right at the end. Chris Kline is perfect as Paul Metzler as slightly goofy but straight forward guy who gives Tracy a run for her money - he would have won if he voted for himself you know and so is Jessica Campbell in Tammy's role. However, pick of the cast has to be Reese Witherspoon as Tracy Flick. She was just PERFECT!! in every aspect of that role. Way she talks, way she walks, her flacial expressions, her body language - just everything about her was perfect. Will you believe me, if I said that I immediately put Walk the Line(2005) on just to see if she usually walks the way she does in Election or did she do that for the role ? It wouldn't be an over statement if I say that she actually lived that role. There is very little to laugh at this little Miss Perfect who gets up at 5 AM to bake cup-cakes to influence students on the day of Student Council elections but the way she does it, you got to !!

Of all the three Alexander Payne movies I have seen, this might be the most original, most subtle and most complete film. However, unfortunately out of his 3 nominations for Adapted Screenplay Oscar, this is the only Oscar he did not win. I have no idea why I waited for so long even though I have heard nothing but praise for this movie. However, I am certainly glad I can check this this hilarious movie off of my watchlist.

Rating(out of 5):