In the Loop (2009)

In the Loop has been on my watchlist for ages and if it wasn't for Margaret suggesting it to me, it would probably still be there. I really wanted to like this film because it's from the same director of The Death of Stalin (which I haven't seen yet but I've only heard great things about) but I just didn't find it that amusing. 

British Secretary of State for International Development Simon Foster (Tom Hollander) says in an interview that a war in the Middle East is unforeseeable. This sets off people from both the UK and the US to bring out their political strategies, both pro- and anti-war.

I cannot tell you how much I struggled to write that brief plotline. The truth is that I really had a hard time following and understanding what was going on. The plot is very complex which I guess wouldn't have been a problem if I understood something about politics. Unfortunately, I don't. To that, add a very face pacing that completely lost me. I did get the end game, but I'm not really sure about what was going on in the movie. And I watched it twice.

Though the plot really confused me and didn't always hold my attention, In the Loop still manages to be a decent satire of the world of politics. The corruption, the deception, the lack of morality, the cynism, the ambition, it's all in here, so it's definitely a quite accurate portrayal of politicians.

The dialogue is also very quick so I struggled a little to follow that as well --I'm not an English native speaker after all-- but, unlike the plot, it was way easier to follow the second time. It's sharp, humorous, and manages to be both clever and offensive.

IFC Films

If there's a thing in In the Loop that convinced me to give it a second chance, it's Peter Capaldi, ladies and gentlemen. He is fantastic and absolutely hilarious as the Prime Minister's abusive Director of Communications who offends and bullies anyone who stand in his way. He steals the show every single time he is on screen as he delivers all of his lines perfectly.

The rest of the cast does a nice job too, especially Tom Hollander, James Gandolfini --he plays a reluctant but angry US Military General-- and Gina McKee --she plays Capaldi's executive assistant-- who all deliver pretty awesome comedic performances.