In The Loop: UK vs USA in a Vulgarity Match-Up

IN THE LOOP

 

DIRECTED BY: Armando Iannucci

STARRING: Peter Capaldi, Tom Hollander, Gina McKee, James Gandolfini, Chris Addison, David Rasche

GENRE: Satirical black comedy

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

The US President and UK Prime Minister fancy a war. But not everyone agrees that war is a good thing. The US General Miller doesn’t think so and neither does the British Secretary of State for International Development, Simon Foster. But, after Simon accidentally backs military action on TV, he suddenly has a lot of friends in Washington, DC. If Simon can get in with the right DC people, if his entourage of one can sleep with the right intern, and if they can both stop the Prime Minister’s chief spin-doctor Malcolm Tucker rigging the vote at the UN, they can halt the war. If they don’t… well, they can always sack their Director of Communications Judy, who they never liked anyway and who’s back home dealing with voters with blocked drains and a man who’s angry about a collapsing wall.

Alright, so for those who aren’t familiar with In the Loop, be prepared for plenty of British foul and vulgar.  The acting throughout the film is superb, with major shout outs to Peter Capaldi and Tom Hollander. What made In the Loop as popular it was is that it came out at the right time. I mean, it couldn’t have come out at a better time. One final shout out to the writer, as the dialogue in this film is hilarity on another entire level.

Honestly, the only problem I have with the film is not something that I don’t necessarily have a problem with, but as a problem that many will see when they watch the film. In In the Loop, there isn’t a sympathetic character in sight. Absolutely all of the characters were written to not give a single shit, and it works. There will be a few people that will have a problem with this, especially those who pride their film formula. However, breaking the norms is exactly what film-making is about.

PROS:

• Entire cast performance.
• Perfect timing.
• Fantastically written vulgar spool fest.

CONS:

• No one really gives a shit.
• Doesn’t follow film formula (if that is important to you).

SCORE: 8.5 / 10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VDc7-YH1LA

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