In the Loop

You can probably think of several movies that would qualify as a recent quality action flick. Or a recent quality dramedy. But when was the last time you saw a recent quality farce? Yes, a farce. That rare comedy which lampoons with far-flung characterizations and far-fetched situations, many times very political in nature. In the Loop is that film for the time being: the most recent, quality, political farce film in some time. With acerbic politicians and preposterous liaisons, In the Loop manages to reveal the asinine nature of much that is deemed political.

When the British Secretary of State for International Development, Simon Foster, has a slip of the tongue in an interview (an all too often occurrence for him), he sets in motion a series of events on both sides of the pond leading up to a declaration of war in the Middle East. His gaffe quickly escalates into an international phenomenon, and his political life, as well as that of several well meaning interns, starts to spiral out of control. When Malcolm Tucker, a communications chief, gets involved, he tears everyone to pieces with his foul mouth and quick temper. America and the UK battle in England, DC, and the UN building in New York, always resulting in ire and hilarity.

Some of the characters will be familiar to those who have seen The Thick of It, but their relationships are fleshed out so well it doesn’t seem necessary to have seen it. The acting, like the comedic timing, is spot-on. A farce is difficult to pull off, but this one approaches perfection. Tom Hollander (Pirates of the Caribbean), Peter Capaldi, James Gandolfini, Gina McKee, and the rest of this pitch perfect ensemble, have unrivaled comedic chemistry. Relative newcomer Chris Addison and Anna Chlumsky play the interns, two otherwise intelligent people aspiring to political success in one form or another, a highly unintelligent aspiration in this farcical world.

The director of The Thick of It, Armando Iannucci, also directs this one, no doubt lending to the impeccable timing and farcical atmosphere. The film itself tells the ludicrous story leading up to the current war in the Middle East, a veritable farce even without all the Scottish cursing. The world watched as two political giants garnered nonexistent evidence in order, essentially, to declare war on a entire region of the world. The sad truth of the matter, of course, is that, as farcical and funny as it is in many ways, America and England hurled themselves, and the world, into a decade of unnecessary death.

Watching the politicians conjure smoking guns out of thin air and manufacture lie after lie in order to achieve whatever end they see fit, elicits both laughter and terror, as we realize that the buffoonery that took place at such a high level of political import is the progenitor of so much global ruination. Iannucci and his team of extraordinarily funny actors and writers produces, without a doubt, one of the best farces of recent years, if not the best. Ultimately, regardless of your political or national affiliation, this one is a definite must-see.

Rating: 4/4 Stars