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Peter Capaldi, Tom Hollander, Gina McKee

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 Interna...( read more  read more... )tional 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 fire 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.

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128 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 46 min.

Directed by: Armando Iannucci

Release Date: July 24, 2009

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DVD Release Date: January 12, 2010

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Flixster Reviews (2,692)

  • mrpopcorn
    October 24, 2009
    mrpopcorn
    "The fate of the world is on the line."

    The US President and UK Prime Minister fancy a war. But not everyone agrees that war is a good thing...

    REVIEW

    Politics is no place for fragile egos or p...( read more)eople with good intentions. Based on Armando Ianucci's TV series The Thick Of It, this wonderfully hilarious political satire confidently strides into territory that was the preserve of the classic Yes, Minister. It laughs at this world of double speak, lies, spin doctoring, self-interest, bureaucratic bungling, the "national interest", and sycophants. As both the US and British governments shore up their position on declaring war on Iraq, a potential thorn emerges in the form of Stephen Foster (Tom Hollander), a naive and incompetent junior minister, whose impromptu remarks about war being "unforeseeable" threaten to derail the whole process. Both the British and US governments move into damage control. This cleverly scripted and insightful comedy moves between the offices of high-powered ministers in both London and Washington, and even to the Security Council of the UN. Ianucci has shot the film in faux documentary style, a clever artifice that recalls The Office, by placing the audience right in the middle of the political machinations. There are some marvellously laugh out loud moments throughout the film. Peter Capaldi is ferociously funny as Malcolm Turner, the foul-mouthed minister who offends and bullies anyone who stands in his way. 'The Sopranos' star James Gandolfini is also very good as the blustering US general.
  • gor41
    September 26, 2009
    gor41
    Starts where 'In the thick of it' left off but loses its potency when the Americans try to imitate our lunacy. An obvious attempt/necessity to broaden its appeal to an american audience shows this style of politico-comedy-drama only works in Britain. Interesting failure - more 'I...( read more)n the thick of it' please.
  • DrZeek
    August 29, 2009
    DrZeek
    Simon Foster: It'll be easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy.
    Toby Wright: No, it's going to be difficult-difficult-lemon-difficult.

    A hysterical and vulgar political comedy that feels like a British version of an Aaron Sorkin screenplay. The film is full of characters that all equate with ...( read more)each other through the fast paced, sharp tongued dialog fired back and forth throughout.

    During an interview on a BBC Radio program, Minister for International Development Simon Foster, played by Tom Hollander, accidentally states that a proposed war in the Middle East is "unforeseeable". Although told off for not following "the line" by the Prime Minister's enforcer Malcolm Tucker, played by Peter Capaldi, the statement coincides with a visit by high-up U.S. officials who jump upon the phrase and begin to use Simon, and his hapless new aide Toby, played by Chris Addison, as pawns in an international game.

    Although not shot like a documentary, there is a fly on the wall approach to the way this film was shot, which places you in the surroundings of all these characters. While the subject matter could actually be true in a different world, this film is all about having these characters deliver some amazing dialog throughout. Particularly Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker. Example:

    Malcolm Tucker: Why the fuck would I tell you about it? I've just told you to fuck off twice yet you're still here?
    Judy: You should tell me about it as it's a scheduled media appearance by a member of this department and therefore it falls well within my purview!
    Malcolm Tucker: Within your 'purview'? Where do you think you are, some fucking regency costume drama? This is a government department, not some fucking Jane fucking Austen novel! Allow me to pop a jaunty little bonnet on your purview and ram it up your shitter with a lubricated horse cock!

    A spin off of a British TV series known as, In the Thick of It (which I really want to check out now), this was a film that I was still immediately able to enjoy. I love British humor, but this is not the kind of humor that Americans who are fans of Ricky Gervais would feel akin to, this is different and it works well.

    Toby Wright: Look, alright, I was late for the meeting, Simon, I am sorry, but it's not like I threw up in there, is it?
    Simon Foster: No, you're right, I'm being unfair. I should be thanking you for not throwing up. Well done, you're a star. You didn't wet yourself, did you? You're in the right city. You didn't say anything overtly racist. You didn't pull your cock out and start plucking it and shouting "Willy Banjo". No, I'm being really unfair. You'd got so much right, without actually being there in the beginning of one of the most important moments of my career. Thanks, you're a legend.
  • kenstachnik
    August 23, 2009
    kenstachnik
    It's like The Office and State of Play had a baby. A quick witted black comedy with an acid tongue.
  • her69eyes
    August 18, 2009
    her69eyes
    Armando Iannuci's "In the Loop", a delightful departure from the bromance formula of comedy that has dominated multiplexes for the past few years, moves along at a lightning pace with it's barrage of vulgarities spewing from all angles. Putting "The Office" and "The West Wing" in...( read more) a blender, the film pokes it's fun at thickheaded warmongers, and it illustrates politics as little more than an elite bloodsport. While it's political satire may not be as topical as it was a few years ago, it remains an enormously energetic, intelligent, and terrifically performed comedy.

    The inciting incident for the film is when Simon Foster (Tom Hollander), the British minister of international development, claims that "war is unforeseeable" on a radio interview. In his attempts to salvage the controversial line, he only digs himself into deeper holes: "to walk the road of peace, sometimes we need to be ready to climb the mountain of conflict". This is the sort of line that Linton Barwick (David Rasche), the head-honcho at the U.S. state department, needs to ignite his efforts in getting the war in an unspecified country in the Middle East rolling.

    Comparisons to "The Office" don't only come from it's mockumentary style of filmmaking, but also in the romance between two young government workers: British Toby (Chris Addison), Simon's assistant, and American Liza (Anna Chlumsky), author of "Post War Planning: Parameters, Implications, and Possibilities" - known shorthand as "pwip-whip". But drawing us into these characters on an emotional level is not what the film is about - in fact, not one of these people is likable. The intricacies of the plot don't add up to much in comparison to the enormously sharp sparring matches of words.

    The cast also includes a delightful James Gandolfini as a Pentagon general who, in one of the most memorable scenes of the film, calculates the potential loss of troops on a child's talking calculator, and the show-stealing Peter Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker, the communications director to the British prime minister. Tucker's character is a vile one with a knack for stringing together his insults by the dozens in the midst of what appears to be a perpetual aneurism.

    Although having a short running time, the film seems to run out of steam before the credits due to the exhaustive nature of the material. It's not a film for everybody - the plot is a bit dull (albeit intentionally), the characters aren't exactly pleasant company, and the humor isn't quite as broad as you'd expect from a summer comedy. That being said, however, an intelligent open-minded audience will find much to admire in the wonderful ensemble cast and their hilarious foul-mouthed exchanges.
  • deadmansshoes
    October 21, 2009
    deadmansshoes
    A movie spin-off award winning BBC comedy series, The Thick Of It, doesn't quite meet it's predecessor in it's horrifying vitriol but, in terms of cinema, In The Loop is one of the best political satires ever made.



    It makes it's intentions known early on when a up and ...( read more)coming UK Member of Parliament is heard to state, rather definitively, during a radio interview that "war is unforeseeable". In the world of politics decesivieness is as good as a death knell, this is why politicians will never speak frankly, always talking in circles and deflecting questions. An actual stance is a dangerous thing. This sets the ball rolling for what will be a collission of two political worlds (the Washington Senate and the British Houses of Parliament) which shows in methodical and often mundane detail, just how a real war starts in this modern world. Not with a gunshot, but with stacks of paper.



    Despite being a film simply about people talking about going to war, and the schemes and misdeeds taken to ensure a result one way or the other, this film is riveting to watch in a way many more po-faced political thrillers fail to be, due to a crackling script and amazing delivery from a cast of versatile actors. Firing abuse and profanity like a Sylvester Stallone with an anti-aircraft gun in Rambo, this movie is almost jawdropping in it's verbal brutality, and that is largely thanks to the sublime Peter Capaldi.



    Capaldi is a Scottish character actor whose tyrannical Spin Doctor, Malcolm Tucker, manages to effortlessly sidestep between gutwrenchingly funny to downright intimidating with the most subtle of performance shifts. Despite being almost indistinguisable between one or the other, we're never left wondering whether we should be laughing or feeling uncomfortable by Capaldi's character, he communicates the intent without ever sending up a flare. He treats the humor and the drama with the same level of commitment and makes swearing look like an artform. It's flawless acting and I will go to the bat for Capaldi to get a Best Supporting Actor nomination for these coming Oscars.



    The majority of the cast give great performances, giving layered performances and delivering their dialogue with a naturalistic flair, the only stand-out weak link would be Anna Chlumsky who always feels like she is acting in a different film to the rest of the cast; something more traditionally comedic and broad. She never quite connects with the realism that Iannucci has created through the rest of the film.



    This film also possesses a screenplay worthy of an Oscar nomination. It's genuinely great comedy which could play as great drama, it's a film truly deserving of Oscar recognition.



    Beautifulyl profane and unforgiving political satire. The funniest film of the year so far, and one of the scariest too in it's meticulous plausability. The Dr. Strangelove of our times.
  • rbevanx
    October 17, 2009
    rbevanx
    Not my cup of tea but clearly very well written.
  • monkeybobbob
    October 6, 2009
    monkeybobbob
    Fast paced political satire. When out of his depth parlament minister Simon Foster lets slip on national television that he backs the idea of a war it suddenly gets alot of attention from Washington and the media. Foster obviously doesn't want a war, it was a stupid slip of the t...( read more)oungue but he has no idea how to get out of the situation. Cue fellow minister, Peter Capaldi, who will attempt to get Foster, and the goverment ,out of trouble. What follows is some of the finest, sweariest and funniest insults ever heard, mostly by Capaldi's character, as your swept along by the whole story. The only downside might be that the dialogue is very fast at times so if your not paying attention you might miss stuff but then thats your problem as you'd be missing some great moments in a genuinely funny film. A great political comedy.
  • eskaton666
    October 3, 2009
    eskaton666
    Outstanding political satire that kind of plays like Dr. Strangelove meets the British version of the Office. Definitely recommended to anyone who like one or both of those. James Gandolfini, as always, an asset to the film. Surprisingly good performance from Anna 'My Girl' Chl...( read more)umsky! Definitely one of the better films of 2009.
  • kennethahlin1
    September 28, 2009
    kennethahlin1
    Mycket rolig, och oroande.

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Critic Reviews

July 31, 2009
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

In the Loop is one of the best political comedies since the invention of the sprocket hole. full review

July 30, 2009
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Political satire is a rare bird at the cinema, so fans of the genre should watch and savor Armando Iannucci's In the Loop -- a rapid-fire, profane celebration of the art (and artlessness) of spin. full review

July 24, 2009
Bob Mondello, NPR

Blistering satire ... scabrous laughs. And it's so easy to imagine that this really is how governments make earth-shaking decisions. full review

July 24, 2009
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

The jagged rhythms of the movie's dialogue are entertaining in themselves, and it's fun to watch the actors keep their lines spinning and bouncing off each other. full review

July 24, 2009
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

While In the Loop is a highly disciplined inquiry into a very serious subject, it is also, line by filthy line, scene by chaotic scene, by far the funniest big-screen satire in recent memory. full review

July 24, 2009
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

The language is brilliant, and the laugh lines come so quickly that you'd probably have to watch the movie twice to get them all. full review

July 23, 2009
Claudia Puig, USA Today

If you can get past its relentless quality, In the Loop is a blisteringly funny skewering of the venal side of politics. full review

July 23, 2009
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

[It's] that rare film utterly without heroes; instead, it amasses a group of boobs, users, and charlatans on both sides of the Atlantic and asks us to recognize our duly elected and appointed official... full review

July 22, 2009
Armond White, The New York Press

Instead of inspiring geniuses, Iraq war backlash has only resulted in snarky self-righteousness that -- from Charlie Wilson's War and now British import In the Loop -- has demonstrated the low ebb of ... full review

July 20, 2009
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

By the end of the film, you just want to get away from these people. full review

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In the Loop Trivia

  • He is a weather man caught in a time loop and is continously being waken up in the morning by the same song "I Got You Babe" sung by Sonny and Cher. Who was that?  Answer »
  • At the beginning of "Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life" the two doctors are playing a game in which John Cleese throws cards through a loop in Graham Chapman's arm. What is John's score right before the nurse enters to inform them about the patients contractions?  Answer »
  • In Groundhog Day, Phil Connors (Murray) attempts to break the time loop that he's stuck in by committing suicide. Which of the following methods is not depicted in the movie?   Answer »
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