Political Satire keeping everyone ‘In the Loop’

With its sharp dialogue and cynical look at politicians and government bureaucrats, “In the Loop” starts off fast and never lets up. Shot in a documentary film style and with handheld camera work, the film has become appealing to viewers of such television hits as The Office.

The film opens with the British and American governments preparing to invade an unnamed Middle Eastern country but without enough justification to do so. 

However, the political spin, backstabbing and general circus of government shenanigans are all set in motion when a clueless British minister, Simon Foster (Tom Hollander), says in an interview with the BBC that the situation in the Middle East, escalating to war, was “unforeseeable.” 

Considered to be one of the most influential men in British comedic television with his long running political satire hit series, In the Thick of It, this film debut of Armando Iannucci is a political farce that succeeds to entertain throughout, even though the subject of a Mideast conflict is a very serious issue today.  Any fan of such classic film satires as “Dr. Strangelove” and M.A.S.H will enjoy all that “In the Loop” has to offer. 

The film’s look at the attempts of Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi), the vulgar and powerful British press officer, to clean up the on-going mess of things, as Foster’s ineptitude and verbal blunders continue, are effectively captured in this well-paced film. Capaldi’s cynical performance and overabundance of hostility is in full force, as seen by the amount of profanity he uses in every sentence.  

However, “In the Loop” depicts not just the internal British political turmoil. The U.S. political system is equally scorched.

The American and British heads of state are never named or shown and no political party is ever mentioned, but the film effectively captures the British and American push for war based on uncertain intelligence and in the wake of opposing views inside both governments. 

“In the Loop” follows the interaction of bureaucrats in both governments as they look to further their careers as they deal with a contrived conflict. Foster is tugged back and forth with his views by his two rival aides, the quickwitted Judy (Gina McKee) and the blunt Toby (Chris Addison).

Foster is also manipulated by two conflicting U.S. state department bosses, Karen Clark (Mimi Kennedy), who wants to slow down the rush to war and Linton Barwick (David Rasche), who wants to speed it up. Moreover, Clark and Barwick also have a pair of rival aides, Chad (Zach Woods) and Liza Weld (Anna Chlumsky), who are both ready to do whatever it takes to get ahead.  The shallowness of military leadership is also effectively portrayed by James Gandolfini in his role of Lt. Gen. George Miller.

“In the Loop” is an entertaining and thought provoking film.

The characters are determined to get their own way, by whatever means including: humiliation, deception or direct confrontation.

The film shows in convincing detail the actions of people that are in charge of making important decisions, which in turn, creates a real uneasiness because of how narrow-minded and untrustworthy these people can be. 

The irony of it all is that it becomes so easy to forget that they are all allies. 

The film deals with a serious subject, full of hilarious and clever profanity filled lines, crazy scenes and great pacing, leaving the audience feeling in the end that they were in the loop on a great satire involving a very believable situation.   

Steve Theleen can be contacted at stheleen@keeneequinox.com.