In The Loop

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I didn't expect very much from Armando Iannucci's In The Loop, a Sundance '09 movie that I caught here last week. The notes made this low-budget British political comedy sound too ambitious and convoluted and cross-burdened. Except it's not. It's easily one of the funniest comedies about governmental inanity and media mis-speak I've ever seen. It also felt to me like one of the fastest laughers of this type since Billy Wilder's One, Two,Three.

In The Loop director-writer Armando Iannucci

And it has some absolutely wonderful insult humor. I'm talking one beautiful saber thrust and club-bludgeon after another.

Suffice that my pre-viewing concerns evaporated almost immediately. The reason I didn't expect a lot going in is that I didn't know Iannucci -- he's a successful British-based comedian, writer, director, performer and radio producer -- or anything about his shows. I didn't know squat, for instance, about The Thick of It, a 2005 political satire for BBC Four that Iannucci devised, directed and largely wrote. Some of the British government characters in In The Loop originally appeared in The Thick Of It.

In The Loop is basically about how the media can sometimes focus on a gaffe by an official or spokesperson and make it sound (via sheer repetition and obsession) to represent firm government policy concerning this or that major issue. In The Loop's major issue is a potential military conflict involving U.S. and British troops -- think Iraq in '02 -- but the humor is about how various second- and third-tier government types in London and Washington try to dodge, maneuver and counter-spin their way around an essentially meaningless statement by a British cabinet minister that war is "unforeseeable." Meaningless and yet strangely meaningful once the media gets hold of it. And the source of endless misery for many people.

Some of the In The Loop-ers.

"Wickedly sardonic and filled with secrets, lies, leaks, plugs, and faulty intelligence and walls, In the Loop leads us behind closed doors to reveal bungling bureaucrats entangled in petty rivalries, obsequious aides jockeying for favor, and the Keystone Cops of government," say the Sundance notes.

Every cast member -- Peter Capaldi, James Gandolfini, Tom Hollander, David Rashe, Gina McKee, Chris Addison, Anna Chulmsky and Mimi Kennedy topline -- is clearly on the same Iannucci wavelength. They know they're working with great material, and so do we. What is unmistakable is that they're all having enormous fun with the material, although in a very assured and ultra-disciplined way.

I was so taken with In The Loop that I asked to speak to Iannucci. He called from London last Friday or something. (Thursday?) Our discussion speaks for itself. I'm hoping to meet with him in Park City, along with Gandolfini and Kennedy.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 13, 2009 at 12:10 PM

comment #1

lehigh says ...

The Thick Of It is good stuff.

Sort of like The Office, but a little meaner, and colder.

Posted by lehigh at January 13, 2009 1:30 PM

comment #2

KC says ...

Armando Iannuci is a jeeeniyus, can't listen now but I'm looking forward to it later!

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Posted by KC at January 13, 2009 1:55 PM

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KC says ...

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Posted by KC at January 13, 2009 1:56 PM

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sardine says ...

I saw Wilder's ONE TWO THREE opening day in chgo in the 60's. terrible movie.

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talentedgc says ...

That pic makes him John Turturro's spitting image

Posted by talentedgc at January 13, 2009 2:38 PM

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Jeffrey Wells says ...

One , Two, Three is very glib, broad, hammy and dated, but when it's cooking and in-gear it's great. Hell, wonderful at times. A classic farce, certainly, during the last half. And it features a close-to-breathtaking James Cagney performance -- his funniest, his most energized, his most rat-a-tat-tat.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells at January 13, 2009 2:40 PM

comment #7

joncro says ...

The Thick of It is great stuff.......

Posted by joncro at January 13, 2009 4:35 PM

comment #8

lipranzer says ...

I love ONE, TWO, THREE ("Is old Russian proverb: Go West, young man!"), and I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled for this one.

Posted by lipranzer at January 13, 2009 6:38 PM

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arturobandini2 says ...

What a rockin' cast of cult actors. I haven't heard from Mimi Kennedy since her funny, failed sitcom with Peter Cook in the '80s. Gina McKee was memorable in Croupier and especially Naked ("Want some beans?"). And Peter Capaldi played a mean set of bagpipes in Lair of the White Worm, one of Ken Russell's better campfests. Thanks for the heads-up.

Posted by arturobandini2 at January 13, 2009 8:25 PM

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worrywort says ...

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Posted by worrywort at January 15, 2009 10:14 PM

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skllee says ...

I concur with what Worrywort says & try and get Time Trumpet as well - another series Iannucci did. He was also behind a couple of series of I'm Alan Partridge (with Steve Coogan) & collaborations with Chris Morris who is another arch UK satirist.

As for the creativity of the insults, there's a good reason for that. On The Thick of It, Iannucci employed a 'Swearing Consultant' - I kid you not, if you check the end titles, you'll see it there! What a great job that would be . .

Posted by skllee at January 29, 2009 5:06 AM

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A British movie that isn't about gangsters or theater people (or non-theater people putting on a show)? What gives?

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Everything since Alan Partridge has been a let down as far as Armando is concerned, and this is no different. Just doesn't cut the mustard for me.
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The European gala premiere screening was held in the independent Glasgow Film Theatre as the opening of the 2009 Glasgow Film Festival on the 12th of February 2009, attended by Iannucci and members of the cast.
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