Film Review: In the Loop

In the Loop

Dir. Armando Ianucci
[BBC Films]

2009 Might be over, but there remains a slew of films I didn't get the chance to see. Armando Ianucci's tale of Washington and Westminister's hysterically desperate attempt to control the media-spin on the Iraq war, is one of them.

Based on the British comedy, The Thick of It, In the Loop is a grown up satirical comedy examining the confounding idiocy within the inner-circles of the British and American governments. Although the film is littered with purposeful political jibes, it never takes itself too seriously and focuses mostly on the funnies.

The dialogue and pacing of the film is delivered at a staccato pace, with sharp interminable verbal assaults at all angles. The clever and brilliantly juvenile script is sharp and focused with every character delivering his line with unerring conviction and astute comic timing.

Whilst the direction is fairly pedestrian, adding little to the scene and detracting little from them, it is perhaps exactly the stance the film demanded. Ianucci ditches the shaky camera work employed in The Thick of It, believing it wouldn't have transposed well to the big screen and instead uses lots of quick zooms to get that raw and energetic feel.

In the Loop is my favourite comedy of 2009. It's clever, but not too clever; It's politcal, but not too political; It's feriously funny without a momentary lull, exceedingly charming and well executed.