In the Loop

In the Loop
Directed by Armando Iannucci
Runtime: 106 min.

COULD
IN THE LOOP please be the last gasp of Iraq war satire? Instead of
inspiring geniuses, Iraq war backlash has only resulted in snarky
self-righteousness that—from Charlie Wilson’s War and now British
import In the Loop—has demonstrated the low ebb of modern comedy.When
British government minister Simon Foster (Tom Hollander) misspeaks
about an “unforeseeable” war, the Prime Minister’s foul-mouthed
Director of Communications, Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi), pushes
Foster into a trans-Atlantic rhetorical war with Washington, D.C.
bureaucrats that include a wonk (Mimi Kennedy) and a general (James
Gandolfini).

There are no humane, pacifist ideals in this
satire of bureaucratic shenanigans. It derives from and flatters the
media class poking fun at their political brethren. Somehow,
this in-group narcissism dominates our political discourse and our
cultural habits. In the Loop depicts a gray-suit world where everyone
is hip, an insider and yet bears no responsibility outside
jobholding.This may be true, but unfortunately this truth isn’t
pursued—that’s why it fails as satire. Instead of making a point of
white-collar venality, director-writer Armando Iannucci flatters it.
His swish-pan, zoom-in visual style offers a mockdoc view of inane behavior that
actually distorts reality. Robert Altman transcended this TV-style
realism by offering the genuine flow of emotion, personality and
credible atmosphere.

Iannucci’s sense of place is indistinguishable
from The Office or The West Wing. Iannucci is good at casting British types: Everyone’s pasty, twerpy and aggressive. But
justifying Fleet Street incivility as entertainment wears out quickly
unless you’re among the legion of media elite aroused by
superciliousness or someone who simply finds cuss words funny— and In the Loop features an avalanche of profanity. Gandolfini’s presence certifies the HBO-nastiness of it all. In the Loop is for smart arses, not smart enough to appreciate the cultural satire of Hot Fuzz and, for Americans, too egocentric to admit the insight and wit of the Coen Brothers’ excellent bureaucratic satire, Burn After Reading. In true Altman spirit, the Coens hit too close to home. In the Loop is simply the most hateful British comedy since Death at a Funeral.