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There’s absolutely no humanity in Western democracy whatsoever. Government agencies and
their sly, vindictive representatives don’t give a rat’s arse about you or your superfluous
needs. They’re only interested in dumbing you down with all those unnecessary vices supplied
by corporate giants so that you’ll never be able to form an intelligent opinion about what’s
really going on behind the scenes. You’re cattle. Don’t ever forget that!
In the Loop strongly adheres to this ethos, whereby its characters merely serve as puppets
to usher in a globalist agenda. But, to watch them as hapless vultures, fiendishly cavorting
around those drab offices trying to hatch up a plan is exhilarating to watch, particularly in
this film because these characters are so unbelievably clueless that you can’t help but fall for
their naivety.
This is a superbly profane, vulgar British political satire that skilfully exhibits our equally
crude generation of hardcore professionals in the context of empirical and personal gain
amid the worldwide political sphere. It’s almost as good as Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove because
it boldly expounds the notion that the individuals in charge of the governing bodies and
media conglomerates are merely adolescent males competing against one another in a giant
pissing contest. And, who are they pissing on? Us of course.
Rarely does one come across a satire that is this good, especially in recent years, and if you’
ve ever been involved in media or PR, you’re bound to find In the Loop right on the money.
Everything is expertly done. The script is scathing and witty, the performances are pretty
much flawless, the quips are downright original and brutal, and the characters, while on the
surface appear to be nothing more than caricatures of those who inhabit the cut-throat
world of politics, are beautifully overembellished by the actors. This is cracking
entertainment, and in terms of pace, the film operates at the same speed.
The US are about to invade Iraq for the first time, and the US and British governments are
anxiously awaiting the proceedings. When the British, represented by a nitwit government
official named Simon (Tom Hollander), unwittingly backs a US led invasion of Iraq on national
television, things spiral out of control. Accompanied by his newly appointed assistant, Toby
(Chris Addison), Simon ends up in Washington DC with Malcolm (Peter Capaldi), the British
Prime Minister’s foulmouthed communications liaison, hot on his heels. Once there, he finds
himself at the centre of a giant circus where every dog-eating professional crawls out from
the woodwork, demanding a slice of the action.
Peter Capaldi is a standout in this film, chewing up every single frame with his inventive
derogatory remarks. He makes your typical hard-nosed bureaucrat act and sound like Mary
Poppins, but I have to be truthful, he’s got the best lines in the film, hands down. James
Gandolfini also shines as a bloated womanising US Army General turned bureaucrat. Everyone
here is excellent because the material gives everyone the opportunity to go for broke right
down to the extras. Director and co-writer Armando Iannucci, with his limber, agile
approach, has clearly provided a comfortable working environment for his actors. In the
Loop works especially well for this reason.
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I’m not much of a fan of political satire, but In the Loop was an exception (for me). It’s an
ensemble piece. Imagine if Robert Altman was born in the UK, grew up doing a shitload of
goey, and hopped behind the camera in his maniacal 20’s. In the Loop would be the end
result. With loads of energy and a truckload of F bombs, In the Loop is a convoluted,
sarcastic, and relentlessly amusing expose on the mechanics of media and government
relations.
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