“In the Loop” is a political satire that moves from the realm of hysterically funny in its absurdity to unsettling and disturbing, considering that the “absurd” may be more true to life than one would like to believe.
Set on both sides of the Atlantic in the political centers of London and Washington, D.C., the comedy-drama kicks off when an earnest and awkward British government minister (Tom Hollander) makes a speaking blunder during a TV interview. The slight slip of the tongue accidentally lends credibility to the U.S. war in the Middle East that the leaders of both counties are in favor of.
He becomes the toast of the town among the hawks inside the Beltway, where he travels with his contentious communications chief (Peter Capaldi) on the eve of a vote to engage in the war. The two find themselves involved with a U.S. general (James Gandolfini) and assistant secretary for diplomacy (Mimi Kennedy) who are trying to infiltrate the clandestine war committee amidst power struggles, a sexual tryst, and scathing witty dialogue.
Set on both sides of the Atlantic in the political centers of London and Washington, D.C., the comedy-drama kicks off when an earnest and awkward British government minister (Tom Hollander) makes a speaking blunder during a TV interview. The slight slip of the tongue accidentally lends credibility to the U.S. war in the Middle East that the leaders of both counties are in favor of.
He becomes the toast of the town among the hawks inside the Beltway, where he travels with his contentious communications chief (Peter Capaldi) on the eve of a vote to engage in the war. The two find themselves involved with a U.S. general (James Gandolfini) and assistant secretary for diplomacy (Mimi Kennedy) who are trying to infiltrate the clandestine war committee amidst power struggles, a sexual tryst, and scathing witty dialogue.
Writer/director Armando Iannucci, along with producer Adam Tandy of the BBC hit comedy “The Thick of It,” creates vivid characters throughout “In the Loop” that pop off the screen as they ambitiously maneuver their personal careers into places that will inexorably impact entire nations and many lives.
In the press notes, co-writer Simon Blackwell acknowledges the parallels between “In the Loop” and events that led up to the Iraq War.
“We wanted to see the madness around the central discussion about a coming war,” says Blackwell, “the issue of war can sometimes become anesthetized in the political debate. Very few people talk about people being killed and the horrors of it. It becomes a theoretical thing.”
“In the Loop” entertains while reminding us of the recklessness, madness, and folly of the political arena.
In the press notes, co-writer Simon Blackwell acknowledges the parallels between “In the Loop” and events that led up to the Iraq War.
“We wanted to see the madness around the central discussion about a coming war,” says Blackwell, “the issue of war can sometimes become anesthetized in the political debate. Very few people talk about people being killed and the horrors of it. It becomes a theoretical thing.”
“In the Loop” entertains while reminding us of the recklessness, madness, and folly of the political arena.
