Andrew Pike, one of the founders of the ANU Film Group and owner of Electric Shadows and Ronin, created this avant-garde study of college life on the the Australian National University in the early 70s. There's hope for us yet!

Jim McAlister (Broderick) is one of the most popular teachers at his school. Several time winner of the teacher-of-the-year award, as well as being advisor to the student government. But his normal attitude is strained when Tracy Flick (Witherspoon) decides to run for president of the student body. Ever since she caused one of his close friends to get fired from the school, McAlister has had it in for her. And so he aims to use every means at his disposal to ensure that she doesn't get elected.
Election is a very, very black comedy. Most of this focuses around Broderick's character, who is most definitely not Ferris Bueller. It's probably a good idea to repeat that to yourself several times before watching this film, as it'll be very hard to watch otherwise. There are some amazing comic moments, and a lot of good material. But this is not an upbeat, happy comedy. Rather, it is a fairly brutal look at the altogether too real life of a group of very depressing people. Worth watching, but beware.

It's the very early '80s. And for various teens at Ridgemont High, the various pressures of life - sex, school, drugs, and the mall - come into play over the course of a few weeks. Amy Heckerling (later writer/director of Clueless) and Cameron Crowe (later writer/director of Jerry Maguire) combine to bring you the early 80's in all their day-glo, checkerboard shoe-d glory.
What's the difference between this movie and every other '80s teen movie? Well, for one thing, this has a much rougher edge to it - you wouldn't see sex or drugs in a John Hughes movie. Plus Fast Times has the kind of cast that goes on to do proper acting - Judge Reinhold, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Nicholas Cage (under the name Nicolas Coppola for the only time in his career), and, in perhaps the defining "stoner- surfer" role of all time, Sean Penn as Jeff Spucoli. If the name Sean Penn makes you think of intense, brooding, thoughtful performances - well, you haven't seen this movie. Sean Penn gives a performance that makes Keanu Reeves as Theodore Logan (or, well, Keanu Reeves as anything) look relatively intelligent, up-tight, and an all-round avoider of recreational drugs.
Okay, so there really isn't a plot. Who cares? Sit back, relax, and enjoy the buzz.