In The Loop (2009)

By
Dale Cooper
 – September 27, 2009Posted in: Movie Review, Movies, Spotlight
In The Loop (2009)

in the loop 202x300 In The Loop (2009)
BBC Films
Directed by Armando Iannucci
Starring [Ensemble] inc. Peter Capaldi
Released July 24 (USA-Limited) August 21 (Canada-Limited)

“In the Loop” is a British satire film documenting the questionable push towards war with Iraq by the United States and the UK.  Included in the film is a send up of civilian leaders pushing the war, peace loving Generals, hard line media relation bureaucrats, hapless nice guy politicians, political networking, sexual relations, questionable evidence, and analytical reports swept under the rug  (and subsequently leaked).  In short, “In the Loop” encapsulates in 100 minutes all of the purported scandal involved in the build up to the Iraq war by its two main proponent countries.

InTheLoop filmstill4460 300x180 In The Loop (2009)

Malcolm (L) and Toby (R)

The movie begins with Toby (Chris Addison) reporting to work for a middling Minister in Parliament  called Simon Foster (brilliantly portrayed by Tom Hollander).  Toby immediately draws the ire of relations guru, the foul mouth insult factory Malcolm (Peter Capaldi, Torchwood: Children of the Earth).  Though it is hard to given top billing in this great ensemble cast, Malcolm is one of the most constant characters and easily the most memorable.

Foster is already in some trouble with Malcolm and the more senior officials due to not keeping his statements in-line with regards to the war while guesting on a talk show.  Meanwhile Toby has an inside track to get Foster face time with the American Karen Clark, a U.S. Representative struggling to sniff our clandestine meetings and committees that she believes are pushing for the war to be inevitable.  Clark’s aid, Liza (Anna Chlumsky), has drafted a paper that weighs the pros and cons of war and questions the sources of intelligence information.  That paper, referred to by dense acronymeese, goes against the predominate climate in Washington which is to push towards war and its revelation to the public could have dire consequences for the war proponents.

The style of the movie is from a fly-on-the-wall perspective similar to The Office but without the documentary-like  interview interludes.   The camera follows Foster, Toby, Malcolm, Liza, and Karen make the political rounds from London, to Washington, and  to the U.N. while maintaining a daft air of incompetence and humor.

Malcolm Tucker: “Climbing the mountain of conflict”? You sounded like a Nazi Julie Andrews!

Lt. Gen. George Miller: Twelve thousand troops. But that’s not enough. That’s the amount that are going to die. And at the end of a war you need some soldiers left, really, or else it looks like you’ve lost.

Judy: You know they’re all kids in Washington? It’s like Bugsy Malone, but with real guns.

Toby Wright: [looking at George Washington monument] See that? Pull that out, America deflates.
Malcolm Tucker: Yeah, it’s very easy to mock. The closest you’ll ever get to one of those is buying a fucking Toblerone. I’ll wait in the car.
Simon Foster: So what are we going back to, apart from a nice cup of tea and some knife crime?
Toby Wright: Constituency surgery in Northamptonshire.
Simon Foster: Oh, great. Meeting my constituents. It’s like being Simon Cowell, only without the ability to say, “Fuck off, you’re mental.

Hollander as Foster 300x199 In The Loop (2009)

Minister Simon Foster

The humor and zingers in “In the Loops” come fast and furious, especially in the interaction between Malcolm and Foster.  The political representation is over-the-top, but for any that has been involved in politics or covering politics, it’s an all too realistic level of absurdity.  I have a feeling that folks that were pro war in the first place may not like the film except possibly in the way that the staunch anti-war politicians are portrayed just as frivolous as the supporters are portrayed hawkish.  The level of political innuendo and depiction of networking and behind the scenes banter come off at least as chuckle inducing if not side splitting.  Perhaps our reservation in laughing is due to the implication and the feeling that what is being shown as absurdity is not far off from what happens in real life.  On a more lighthearted note, the image of two men sitting around in suit shirts, ties, underwear, and black calf socks is all too real.  I’ve been on enough business trips to have seen that scene time and again but have never thought of how usual it would also be for traveling politicians and aids.

“In the Loop” is a 100 minute gag real ranging from wry humor to outright hilarity.  The subject is serious, but is dealt with in such outlandish whimsy that the film never reaches a level of preachy (that I can tell).  Those sympathetic to the reasons for the Iraq war that cannot separate their politics from entertainment may be aggrieved by the movie.  However those who are apolitical, open minded to entertainment, or of course were against the war in the first place will find plenty of laughs.


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[All Posts] Dale is the founder of PopBunker.net. He also serves as an administrator and editor. He has written professionally for newspapers and broadcast news. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, or contact him via eMail.