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Election

Play trailer Poster for Election 2005 1h 40m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
A democratic election within an organized crime society is about to take place.

Critics Reviews

View All (22) Critics Reviews
Ben Kenigsberg Time Out Rated: 3/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review Ty Burr Boston Globe The film's violence erupts in rare, staccato bursts, all the more horrifying for coming out of nowhere. Rated: 3/4 Aug 24, 2007 Full Review Bill Stamets Chicago Sun-Times Election feels routine at times, though less formulaic than other genre exercises from Hong Kong. The depiction of crime customs is sociologically detailed. Rated: 2.5/4 Jul 13, 2007 Full Review Allen Almachar The MacGuffin An ok movie, made for those who simply want to be entertained with slick visuals, paper-thin characters, and a story where comprehension is not a requirement. Aug 14, 2020 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid The film's main drive involves plotting and scheming rather than outright violence, though -- unlike the sequel -- the basic good guy-bad guy conflict is pretty standard. Jan 3, 2008 Full Review Brian Gibson Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta) Some real genius and understated power . . . transcends its genre and turns the venally criminal into the profoundly human. Nov 19, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ching Y It's also really Hong Kong, like Hong Kong Hong Kong. The political metaphor is on point. A lot of irony/comedy and iconic lines. The movie should stand the test of time just for its insight on power. It's probably the only gangster movie where not a shot is fire, primal but impressive. I consider this The Godfather for HK triad movies. There are other great HK triad movies like young and dangerous, As Tears Go By and Infernal Affair II, but Election is in a league of its own. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/13/23 Full Review gareth d Solid HK triad movie with all the stars, strong characters, an interesting arc and some unexpected twists. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Johnnie To's solid film revolving around the election of a new triad leader in Hong Kong. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member Thickly plotted crime drama that uses a Triad crime family as a backdrop, with their unique and contrasting characters, to explore themes such as honor and loyalty. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Director Johnnie To is to Hong Kong what Scorsese is to New York and American cinema. Few directors in the world capture the criminal underworld as well Johnnie To. What is made more remarkable is he does effortlessly and efficiently. At 97 mins, Election unfolds like a classic gangster epic, but an epic that has had its fat trimmed from every frame. Election is about the Chinese Triads and their democratic process to elect their next leader. Ever two years there's an election, and this campaign season sees to opposite men matching wits and violence to secure their votes. If the film had a softer under belly this could easily be a satire for American politics. But it isn't. And better for it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member A serious, mature film that relies heavily on substance! I prefer Johnnie To's Style over substance any day! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Election

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Election

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Movie Info

Synopsis A democratic election within an organized crime society is about to take place.
Director
Johnnie To
Producer
Dennis Law, Johnnie To
Screenwriter
Nai-Hoi Yau, Tin-Shing Yip
Production Co
China Star Entertainment, One Hundred Years of Film Co. Ltd.
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 1, 2020
Runtime
1h 40m