In the Loop

My ignorance of the works of Armando Iannucci is a horrible former blind spot I am working to correct.  How I was unaware of this master satirist's output is quite a mystery to me, as I crave the sharpened quills of those who dare to take our elected officials to task with such (erudite) venom.  2009's IN THE LOOP, an expansion of Iannucci's BBC series The Thick of It is indeed a vicious, foul mouthed takedown of Anglo-American politics, one that especially targets how governments engineer the eventual military intervention in the Middle East.  Remember 2003?

I discovered IN THE LOOP's existence through Jeffrey Overstreet, a film critic and university instructor who I've followed for over a decade.  I was reading his thoughts on 2016's THE DEATH OF STALIN, a film that intrigued me merely by its still photos.

Both sides of the Atlantic receive the requisite pounding from director and co-writer Iannucci in this nasty little look at lower level officials who nonetheless wield considerable influence and decision making power.  In Britain, Simon Foster (Tom Hollander), The Minister for International Development makes an offhanded and unfortunate comment about the unforseeableness of war in the Middle East during an interview.  The media storm to follow dogs the belleaguered fellow throughout this story, with further gaffes and general ineffectualness gradually contributing to his certain eventual Waterloo.

Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi), The Director of Communications for the Prime Minister, is a fiery, profane lit wick who more or less castigates everyone in his path, especially Simon.  He's the sort of pitbull who thinks nothing of dressing down anyone of any rank, and Capaldi is simply amazing.  His rapid fire one liners and furiously negative energy is something to witness.  He clashes with every other character in IN THE LOOP, which includes various assistants, Advisors, Special Advisors, Press Officers, civil servants, Lieutenant Generals, junior staffers, and constituents.  It's a staffing calculus that defines politics in Washington, D.C. and London.

The decision whether or not to go to war may well be precipitated by a paper written by Liza (Anna Chlumsky), the assistant to the U.S. Assistant of State for Diplomacy, Karen (Mimi Kennedy), the latter prone to her own harsh words and ill-timed mouth bleeds.   Liza's report opposes Middle East intervention, but it's amazing what a little editing and cut and paste can do, especially in the paws of officials who already have covert war committees and agendas.  Scary stuff.

Iannucci shoots his film in that television documentary style seen on The Office and elsewhere.  Thankfully there is no fourth wall breaking with tired commentary.  Not at all cinematic, but all is forgiven.   The script, loaded with one quotable line after another, does a damned fine job of the dance of office politics, which have global consequences.  It is gut bustingly funny most of the time, with a few more nervous chuckles.

The entire cast is perfectly selected, with James Gandolfini absolutely perfect as the Lieutenant General, a hardass who is Malcolm's caustic Yank equivalent much of the time, though he is constantly demeaned as a soldier "who hasn't fired a gun in fifteen years."  Zack Woods, who did little to impress me in the American version of The Office is quite funny here, with his repeated "speaking in parables" toward Liza.  And Chlumsky, who would go to play a role in Veep, Iannucci's U.S. adaptation of The Thick of It, does a decent job of making us forget she played the lead in MY GIRL.