Okay, almost a decade on from its release we’re celebrating the riotous In the Loop, from the mind of Scottish satirist Mr. Armando Iannucci. More recently, he’s been responsible for the very enjoyable Death of Stalin, but he’s also delivered some of the best TV comedy over the last 20 years, such as I’m Alan Partidge (co-written with Steve Coogan), the mighty the Thick of It, and Veep.

In the Loop was adapted from the Channel 4 series (that’s the Thick of It, if you’re a bit confused), which was a biting political satire about British politics (always an arena of bizarre farce and peculiar happenings). It’s heavily over-exaggerated, naturally (something many right wingers watching the film failed to consider), but it’s also pretty hilarious and features some of the most relentlessly inventive profanity since Full Metal Jacket.

In the Loop

The cast includes Peter Capaldi (on epic form as the profane Director of Communications Malcolm Tucker, a belligerent, explosive anti-hero who plays on the stereotype of Scottish people being angry)… yeah. Oh yes, there are other people! Tom Hollander is here, as is Chris Addison, Anna Chlumsky (of Uncle Buck and My Girl fame, now all grown up), and James Galdolfini (of the Sopranos fame).

The plot is too complex to be bothered with explaining, but it’s triggered off by hapless MP Simon Foster making a statement which is blown out of all proportion by the media. So the screenplay lampoons the nature of politics across the continent and how it all, really in its meaningless stupidity, is just about who is the most ego-crazed dickhead with a marginal self-interested, extroverted quality over the other.

In the Loop does, however, portray an interesting look at the “special” relationship between the USA and UK which lasted a few years after the two decided to invade Iraq. Thusly, for In the Loop we have a warped scenario where MPs and other sorts are hurtling about the place and generally misbehaving.

It’s a satire, naturally, as is this website, designed to lampoon the perfect overlords who rule over us and make sure things don’t descend into anarchy. As British citizens, we can confirm our government is in complete control, such as during the 2011 England riots when the government lost complete control to a bunch of working class chavs, resulting in 300 million of expenses for a post-recession, austerity stricken country. Magic.

Malcolm Tucker

Peter Capaldi’s character dominates In the Loop and you’ll quickly come to appreciate (and possibly love how) it’s all about him. Malcolm Tucker’s depraved antics as the borderline madman is magnificent – Capaldi is superb. The no-nonsense aggravator is impossible to deal with, relentless in his pursuit of furtherance, and generally just a nightmare to be around. Behold!

Capaldi, who most famously became a Dr. Who in recent years, is actually a rather relaxed and approachable character by all accounts, but something burning within must promote such outbursts. Hell yeah, Pete. Hell yeah! He’s steered quite magnificently by the script, however, so full credit to Ianucci and let’s hope to see another film… oh wait!

The Death of Stalin

With another impressive cast, this one hit the shelves in 2017 and is an equally riotous account of politics gone wrong. We’ll be covering this soon so don’t want to mention any spoilers, other than that Stalin dies. Oh, sorry… guess we’ve ruined it for you. Hmmmm… well, Steve Buscemi is in it, anyway. That’s a bonus.