In The Loop is a totally scabrous telling of how we came to invade Iraq.
Possibly the most loaded gun pointed at "power" since Dr Strangelove (I am sure opinions will vary, but I'll immediately put it in that league).
Too clever to lay another "Serious" film on us about the evils of politics, director Armando Iannucci has chosen to lay out the rotting corpse machinery of international politics as a foul mouthed farce.
If the Rambo films used to get a body count, this must have a swear count and very high it will become.
The insults (read: macho posturing) come almost continually as threat is laid upon threat to get the result the real power brokers want.
The entire cast in wonderful from James Gandolfini's jaded General to Peter Capaldi as the British ("don't ever call me English") Director of Communications whose life is one continual sprint between decisions pausing only to let out streams of invective at any and ever underling he encounters.
Actually shot inside 10 Downing Street, this has the ring of truth about it as all great comedy must.
And like all great comedy, it lulls you into a nervous security and then lands moments of true humanity and sadness.
The other side of the film is that it shows the value free nature of post-Reagan/Thatcher politics and the puppetry that is all that is on offer.
Edits: 01/29/10
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Topic - In The Loop: a Strangelove for Iraq - dave c 12:14:29 01/29/10 (5)
- Wow, more profanity than Thewlis in "Naked" * - mr grits 13:04:19 01/30/10 (0)
- That was fun! GREAT paceing and balance from all. ~t - mpathus 22:24:32 01/29/10 (0)
- fast paced funny and foul! - PhilJ 15:24:22 01/29/10 (0)
- Good stuff. Have you seen 'The Thick Of It' ? - Tony D. 14:39:02 01/29/10 (0)
- above review contains spoilers. nt - dave c 12:15:07 01/29/10 (0)