In The Loop - Movie Review

[philosoraptor42]

Well, what can I say. From the moment the movie starts you are thrown into a tornado of bad language and hysterics. This is very much the point of "In The Loop". Politics isn't really a suave affair with calm and careful civility from all involved. Behind the scenes tensions run high and tact goes out the window. This film could certainly not be referred to as 'politically correct'.

In some ways the story feels very real, but on the other hand the characters are clearly carictured. This slight confusion between fact and fiction is probably because the actual political landscape is so full of caricatures anyway. (I mean let's face it, how much imagination is really needed to imagine a war-mongering politician in the white house who uses a live grenade as a paperweight?)

The fact is that the film has some laugh-out-loud moments and at other times it has that Monty Python factor whereby you find yourself chuckling at the absurdity later on. There are impeccable performances all round and while these might be caricatures, they're rarely predictable. It's certainly a film that I reckon will benefit from multiple viewings, not least so I can see just what expressions are on the actors' faces as certain lines are delivered.

Nevertheless, the movie throws up the following two problems for me:
1) Extreme fist-in-mouth embarrassment.
2) No protagonist.

I couldn't watch the tv programme "Peep Show" because of the first issue. There's only so much I can stand of people digging themselves into a deeper and deeper hole. There are a few moments like this during In The Loop, but thankfully not too many. I think it gets away with it.

On the second issue, while it seems at times like there's a particular character you are meant to be following avidly, as the movie goes on it becomes hard to support anyone. No character is without their flaws and the flaws are fairly consistently horrific pretty much across the board.

Oh and Steve Coogan has a small part in the movie and very nearly steals the show.

4/5