Film Review: In the Loop

Director: Armando Iannucci

In this day and age, the cinema is king in terms of profitability when ranked against TV programmes. Especially in the UK where we have already seen hit TV shows like  and The Inbetweeners with an Alan Partridge film also in the pipeline for release in 2013 (also directed by Armando Iannucci). In the Loop is a big screen version of the superb The Thick of it which will air its final series quite soon.

The film satirises Anglo-American politics and is widely believed to based around the start of the war in Iraq in 2001. Simon Foster (Tom Hollander) is the Minister for International Development who on a Radio 4 show says that a war in the Middle-East is ''unforeseeable''. He then makes a catalogue of errors in trying to cover his tracks for not remaining neutral on the subject, much to the ire of Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi believed to be based on Alastair Campbell). They then have to deal with a war committee in Washington who also have differing opinions on the war.

Malcom Tucker (Peter Capaldi) and Lieutenant General Miller (James Gandolfini)

The first thing that stands out is Peter Capaldi's performance as Malcolm Tucker who is Director of Communications. His foul mouthed tirades are clever, funny and very realistic based on the knowledge we have from inside Downing Street and parliament. The whole film works well as it subtly mocks the ''special'' relationship the UK government has with the Americans. It is a cynical film when looking at the world of politics that suffered at the box-office in America as it coincided with Barack Obama being made President which meant the Americans weren't in the mood for political satire.

The film was nominated for an Academy Award in 2010 for Best Screenplay which is an impressive accolade; the screenplay is extremely clever and has all the hallmarks of something Iannucci has helped to write. Another key man involved in the writing is Jesse Armstrong who also co-wrote the immensely popular Peep Show. It is the writing that makes this film what it is.

3/4 witty and funny satire just lacks the legs to last for a full movie.