An ensemble cast and sharp writing are In the Loop
In the Loop is yet another gold-star film from 2009 that went under virtually everybody’s radar in the U.S. A political satire based on a BBC series called The Thick of It, the film is about how one man’s public blunder sets a domino-effect of incidents that lead the United States and England coming dangerously close to war with some unnamed country. If Aaron Sorkin was British and The West Wing was a comedy, In the Loop would be the result.
Tom Hollander plays Simon Foster, the Minister for International Development, who is asked during an interview about the possibility of war. His claim that war is “not unforeseeable” kicks off a hurricane of What-does-it-mean and Where-do-we-stand’s amongst those who make the serious decisions in British and American governments. Tom Hollander, a sort of British Peter MacNicol, blunders his way through one public statement after another, making matters worse each time. Very early on he says, “I didn’t get to be where I am by not ever speaking publicly.” And we wonder how.
While In the Loop is an ensemble piece, Foster is essentially the lead character. The film’s plot basically moves with him from continent to continent while also following nearly a dozen other characters. Chief among them are Peter Capaldi as the vitriolic Malcolm Tucker (the Prime Minister’s bulldog and the major contributor to the film’s adult language); Mimi Kennedy (Dharma & Greg) as the Stateside anti-war official Karen Clarke; Chris Addison as Foster’s inexperienced new aide, Toby; David Rasche (from Sledge Hammer! fame) as the slimy U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Linton Barwick, who organizes a secret committee to organize a war effort; Anna Chlumsky (of My Girl fame) as Karen’s aide, Liza; and James Gandolfini (The Sopranos) as U.S. Lt. Gen. George Miller, who also opposes Linton’s exclusive war committee.
From all these players, Capaldi stands out for his performance as Malcom, who swears enough to make a sailor swim home to mommy. His bile-filled monologues to Foster and the screw-ups around him are Olympic-level performances. And when he clashes with Gandolfini’s Miller - bulldog against bulldog, one a pugilist of words; the other a soldier of blunt force – it is something to behold. Also, Anna Chlumsky provides a delightfully surprising performance as the harried Liza. When Liza isn’t at her boss’s every beck-and-call, she’s stressing over a war essay she authored that suddenly gains a huge readership among her superiors or crossing verbal swords with an ass-kissing co-worker. Chlumsky is hilarious here and enjoyable every moment she’s on the screen. It is a real treat to see her back.
The last notable political satires were Team America: World Police in 2004 and American Dreamz in 2006. While both have their merits, neither film has the behind-closed-doors treatment of government that feels as believable as In the Loop. Nor are they as dead-pan about their humor. In the Loop is a dizzying political comedy for smart people. If you’re a fan of movies like Dr. Strangelove or dramas like The West Wing then this is the movie you’ve been waiting for. It is easily among the best comedies of the last year. Do not miss it.
7/10
Should you see it? Rent
In the Loop is on DVD and Blu-Ray now.