IN THE LOOP
UK, 2009, 106 minutes, Colour.
Peter Capaldi, Tom Hollander, Gina Mc Kee, Chris Addison, Mimi Kennedy, David Rasche, James Gandolfini, Anna Chlumsky, Olivia Poulet, James Smith, Zach Woods, Steve Coogan.
Directed by Armando Ianucci.
Even if you are not into political satire, you might well enjoy this fast-paced look at spin, international pressures, civil service activities and inactivities, gossip and rivalries, official bullying and badgering of ministers and their staffs and deals, double deals and deceits between the Americans and the British. At times, it sounds too foul-mouthed for belief but, since Tony Blair's spin doctor serves as the basis for Malcolm Tucker, played to the hilt by Peter Capaldi, art is imitating Campbell's alleged verbal realities. Where the insults and four-letter invective are better than mere witless swearing is in their outrageous creativity in imaginative abuse (with a lot of funny movie references). It may be too much for quieter audiences, but it is often surprisingly and shockingly funny.
Armando Ianucci has a long-standing reputation for this kind of satire, especially with his award-winning television series, The Thick of It, of which this look behind the scenes at Downing Street and The State Department and The White House seems a follow-on.
Ianucci and his several co-writers have written a script then allowed the cast to improvise with new words or with different and sometimes outlandish interpretations.
The trouble with all this is that revelations in recent years will make audiences believe that this is not too far-fetched a dramatisation of what actually happens. A week before the release of the film, it was revealed that one of Gordon Brown's closest advisers (apparently not unlike the film's overbearing Malcolm Tucker) had sent out emails suggesting obscene stories to use for smear campaigns against the opposition. The adviser had to resign. The Prime Minister had to send individual letters of regret to all those named in the emails.
The writers also take their inspiration (not without some desperation about what actually happened in 2002-3) the American collaboration to prepare for the invasion of Iraq, clashes between hawks and doves and the happenstances to a rather dim cabinet minister (very well played by Tom Hollander) with unfortunate sound bytes for the media who tries to veer between both camps by telling the doves he is a 'fake hawk'.
The film moves energetically between London, Washington DC and the United Nations in New York and an expert cast of British and Americans (including Mimi Kennedy, James Gandolfini, David Rasche and Anna Chlumsky) brings the characters/caricatures alive. Eventually, it all just stops, so it is not a plot-driven film, rather a succession of spoofs, parodies and send-up driven film. At least Sir Humphrey Appleby did achieve something in Westminster despite his devious moves. His articulate and shrewd observations were literate and literary. Even though there is a blatancy and in-your-face bravado in In the Loop, it is quite literary in the creative vulgarity department.
1. Political satire? Successful? British style? On the UK, on the US?
2. The topicality of the film, memories of the 2003 invasion of Iraq? The role of the UK? The Prime Minister, ministers, advisers, bureaucrats? The attitude of the US towards war? The secretary and his advisers, committees, bureaucrats? The role of the media, information and leaks?
3. Amando Iannucci and his career in writing, directing? The television series, The Thick of It?
4. The television style, reality shows, satiric programs, editing and pace?
5. The dialogue, the humour, clever writing, coarse language – yet with the touch of the literate?
6. The satire – cross-party, universal?
7. The cast, Peter Capaldi as the focus of the film, the rest of the cast, creating characters, Peter Capaldi as Malcolm, his appearance, language, abuse and control, his expectations, treating people, disdain, self-importance, with Stephen, with Judy, the various assistants, with the press, watching television, listening, his impulses for spin and control, for intrigue, with the United States and the Secretary, the connections, going to the US, running around, counter plotting? The abuse of the Americans, especially the Secretary? His being upset with the 22-year-old official and thinking he was the teaboy? Abusing people, using his intuitions, using the media, leaks, winning out in the end? Audience response to him?
8. The contrast with the Minister, slow-witted, yet ambitious, thinking he had influence, his statements and phrases, repeating them, ingenuous with the press, at the kerbside? His wanting to be present at important meetings, feeling that you ought speak rather than being ‘meat’ for numbers?
9. The staff, Judy in herself, shrewd, nonchalant, her life outside the office? Toby’s arrival, welcoming him? Not being taken to America? Organising, surviving?
10. Toby, his relationship with his girlfriend, her going to her office, her skills, giving him information, his arranging the minister’s presence at the meeting? Education, advice, connections? Malcolm using him, going to the United States, the past relationship with Liza, at a loose end, his spending the night with her, abandoning the Minister? The minister left watching television? His sexual behaviour, running to the meeting, trying to cover himself?
11. The Americans in London, Karen and Liza, their positions, exercise of power, Liza’s paper, the rivalry with the Secetary, the clashes, suspicions? The role of the general? Liza’s paper, being promoted, its attitudes? Karen at the meeting with the Minister, his intervening in London, the decision to use him? Karen and her brief meeting with the Minister, his waiting with Toby, on edge, following her, the ladies room, going to the meeting? Karen, her personality, the problem with her teeth and the blood – her mouth full of tissue and her comment about being a monster? The meetings, the UN vote, Karen losing, her interactions with the general?
12. The Secretary, his staff, dominating, his plans, the war committee, keeping things secret, deceiving Malcolm, the young official meeting Malcolm, spying, secrets, the ruthless editing of the documents? Winning? Pro-war?
13. The General, his career, at a desk for 15 years, at the social with Karen, their plans, his demonstration with the toy and information? Playing safe, his change of attitude, wanting to be on the winning side?
14. The return to London, the Minister, Toby and his girlfriend, Judy? The minister wanting to resign – but still being used?
15. The local politics, the Minister and his constituents, the list of complainants, Toby and the handling of them? The man and his wall, his demonstrations about the wall, his complaints, his comments about not being listened to, the officials and their trying to help, the phone calls and his insistence on his problem, Malcolm using it, political exploitation? The touch of Steve Coogan comedy?
16. An image of politics, power and ambition? Manipulation, using people? To what purpose? The audience and the humorous – and cynical response to politics and politicians?
