In the Loop

When a British politician offers his personal opinion that American military intervention in the Middle East is ‘unforeseeable’, a chaotic chain of events unravel as tension between British and American political power brokers builds. Written and directed by Armando Iannucci, In the Loop will be loved by anyone who appreciated his later works, namely The Death of Stalin and the TV series Veep. It’s got some great performances (especially by Peter Capaldi as the perpetually angry, foul-mouthed government spokesperson) and a fantastic script filled with stinging political satire and often hilarious dialogue. Sure, the handheld camerawork feels a bit erratic and dizzying at times, but that is a small complaint about an otherwise excellent film.

Some original comedy here with good writing and acting. It must have launched the careers of many of these aspiring actors and led to Veep and others. Despite the bad language it is witty and entertaining despite me being frustrated with the stupidity of the characters. RUS

I tried watching this after a friend recommended it but couldn't get past the first 5 minutes due to the camera work. I was getting motion sickness. Even when people are sat still at their desks the camera bounces around like they're at sea in a storm. I got so annoyed I couldn't watch the rest

I cannot imagine being friends with anyone who didn't absolutely love this movie. If you don't "get it", you don't "get" much in this life. Truly fabulous. One of my all time favorite films. Brilliantly funny.

I saw it in the cinema when it came out and laughed myself silly, then bought the DVD, then bluray. I've seen it maybe six times and have lent it to friends at least as many times. One of my top five, if not top three, pick-me-up scathingly hilarious movies.

Nice, witty, entertaining, and so cruelly actual. I enjoyed it a lot

"I just wasn't expecting to see you here. Well, physically here. You're always in my heart." (With heavy British sarcasm) It seems that most substandard political satires come up short not because they shy away from some sort of edge, but because they end up leaning towards self-importance by forgetting one key factor - actual humor. This is a film that very seldom drops explicit references to the human toll of a war that was known in advance to be not only a political blunder but one that would carry a massive cost in human lives, but leaves just enough to keep both the humor and the despondency for the human race equally sharp. Personal weakness, cowardice, individual ambition, and misrepresentation of facts each played a role in the decision to send major US troop deployments to the Middle East, but this gem of a screenplay twists them for laughs in a manner that is less disrespectful to the victims of the conflict than it is lambasting to those that engineered it unnecessarily. Capaldi immerses himself in a character that is full of nothing but venom, curse words, and clever barbs, and Hollander is a delightfully self-reflective idiot, while a stellar supporting cast each deliver top notch performances to flesh out a network of ineptitude and soft power. Special shoutout to David Rasche, who I was unfamiliar with before this film but who is note-perfect. You can enjoy In the Loop for its clever insults and frequent swearing alone, but it's all dressing for a top-notch political satire that delivers situational and character-based comedy with a backdrop that feels chillingly real. (4/5)

Big fan of the TV series this movie is based on (The Thick of It). This movie felt like a step down. Bigger budget, better camera's, some higher profile actors, yet all that doesn't translate into a movie that is better or even rivals the TV series. Capaldi as Tucker is of course the highlight, swearing and spinning as only he can. Rehashing the other characters, especially Ollie and Glen is just unforgivable, and the American cast members don't add anything. On itself probably not as bad, but when you're a fan of the TV series this is based on, or spun off, it just doesn't cut the mustard.

I'm currently watching The Thick of It, so I wanted to check out this movie, which is essentially an alternate universe version of that show with a slightly bigger budget, and where part of it takes place in America. Peter Capaldi is great as Malcom Tucker, as he is in the show, and the various supporting characters all have their charm. Overall though, I didn't think the story was the best I've seen from this format.

This is comedy at its best on the bigscreen when it comes to political/nationalist, anti-war, hand-greasing, ass-kissing satire. The cast is bonkers. Capaldi owns nearly every scene he's in, delivering bone-crushing, spot-on lines of utter disdain and dismissal all in that Scottish accent. Hollander kills it as the fancy boy weakling figure Simon. Great jobs also by Gina McKee, Mimi Kennedy, and the very reliable anna Chlumsky on the ladies side. Toss in Chris Addison, Gandolfini, and holy crap, Steve Coogan, and it's gotta be at least ok. But the team of writers on this one were on the mark so often with the funny. And director Iannucci keeps the pace up throughout, with only the last 10 min. or so floundering some. Check this one out, folks. That is, if you're not put off my extreme verbal assaults and people making asses of themselves. 4 stars