23. In The Loop

directed by Armando Iannucci

In the Loop is a spin off of the BBC comedy The Thick Of It. Government, whether American or British, is an ideal setting to emphasize absurd. What In the Loop does so cleverly is it focuses in on the issue of “war” in the Middle East and the differences between the two countries governments as they make political moves towards war. In the Loop focuses on a cabinet minister named Simon Foster, who at the start of the film makes a statement on the radio that “war is unforeseeable”. This brings his boss Malcolm Tucker down on him. Eventually Simon and Malcolm and their staffs go to Washington DC to meet with a group of American politicians and members of the military. They all come off a bunch of disorganized, lying, angry children and the comedy ensues as the end up at the UN for a declaration of war. In the Loop has a cast of some Britain’s and America’s best comedic talent. The British cast is lead by Peter Capaldi as Malcolm and Tom Hollander as Simon. The American cast is lead by Mimi Kennedy as Karen Clark David Rasche as Linton Barwick. There are some surprising, standout comedy performances from James Gandolfini and Anna Chulmsky. A discussion of In the Loop would not be complete with out mentioning the operatic swearing done by the entire cast but really mastered by the Scottish actors Capaldi and Paul Higgins. In the Loop andThe Thick Of It lead the way for the successful American comedy Veep. In the Loop will have you clutching your sides laughing and quoting its memorable lines for a long time.