Director: Armando Iannucci
Starring: Peter Capaldi, Tom Hollander & Chris Addison
A well timed and well performed political satire that is both incredibly funny and offers some insight into the dealings of British and American politics that certainly feels believable despite of its satirical approach.
Armando Iannucci transfers his BBC TV Series The Thick of It to the big screen with In the Loop by expanding his approach to political satire beyond just the offices of British Government to encompass the White House and United Nations and keeping many familiar faces from The Thick of It, many playing new roles but with Peter Capaldi reprising the role of angry PR director Malcolm Tucker, and adding new faces such as James Gandolfini (The Sopranos), Steve Coogan and Tom Hollander. The plot and the satire also widens its scope and ambition to reflect upon a decision to launch and armed conflict in the Middle East satirizing the decision to invade Iraq made buy the US and UK in 2003.
When politician Simon Foster (Hollander) comments on a radio broadcast that he sees war in the Middle East as “unforeseeable” he finds himself face to face with Malcolm Tucker (Capaldi), the Prime Minister’s PR bulldog who berates him for veering from the Government’s neutral position on the subject. When Foster manages to further complicate the situation when confronted by reporters with comments that come out in favour of conflict, his fence-sitting position makes him attractive to both the pro and anti-war figures in America seeing Foster and his aide Toby (Addison) invited to The White House placing Foster in a position where he must decide his position while facing Tucker who dictates what that position should be. From here comes power plays involving anti-war factions lead by Karen Clarke (Mimi Kennedy) and General Miller (James Gandolfini), leaked Government reports contradicting US Intelligence, doctored reports supporting the Intelligence and backstabbing between politicians and their staffers all out to protect themselves.
Filming in a handheld camera/documentary style, In the Loop has the feeling of being an accurate depiction of political movements in British and American politics. The feeling is supported by a script that sometimes feels improvised with characters and situations that don’t adhere to the usual, stereotypical, depictions of politicians in film. Moments where Clarke and General Miller retire to a children’s bedroom to discuss strategy during a public gathering or a scene where Foster spends a day facing his local constituents in Northampton are both humorous and also surprisingly believable despite being unexpected situations to see such characters on film. The characters in In the Loop are also highly enjoyable particularly the incredibly aggressive and foul-mouthed Malcolm Tucker whose political incorrectness and attempts at intimidation seems shockingly and amusingly inappropriate for the environment in which he operates. Also, whilst played as a satire mocking a perceived lack of competence and communication and an excess of competition between politicians especially in a time of war, the recent actions of politicians in the UK and abroad during elections, expenses scandals and more armed conflict in Middle East make the satire actually feel more genuine. With audiences more willing to believe that politicians are not to trusted right now, In the Loop’s satire is even more effective because it actually could be true!
Performances in In the Loop are also highly enjoyable. Capaldi’s foul mouthed Tucker will be the most memorable performance but also very impressive are Tom Hollander’s bumbling Foster who wants to make a stand but not at the expense of his career; Chris Addison is likewise self-serving as Foster’s newest aide Toby, willing to blame others for his own errors and James Gandolfini is also impressive playing against his TV Gangster image playing a pro-peace General and Steve Coogan appears in an enjoyable cameo as one of Foster’s constituents committed to outing his MP’s neglect to his constituency over a dilapidated wall back in Northampton which has unexpected and amusing implications for Foster.
Overall, In the Loop is a very funny, highly enjoyable political comedy and the timing of its release only serves to make its characters and their actions even more entertaining. Definitely worth watching.
Rating: 4/5
