IMDb > In the Loop (2009)
In the Loop
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In the Loop (2009) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 10 | slideshow) Videos (see all 18)
In the Loop (2009) -- This is the Dr. Strangelove-inspired theatrical trailer for In the Loop.
In the Loop (2009) -- Clip: If that wall falls on my mother
In the Loop (2009) -- UK Interview: Peter Capaldi "On the film"
In the Loop (2009) -- The US President and UK Prime Minister fancy a war. But not everyone agrees that war is a good thing.
In the Loop (2009) -- A British government official becomes a major media figure after an offhanded comment in this political comedy
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Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   5,672 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Armando Iannucci
Writers:
Jesse Armstrong (written by)
Simon Blackwell (written by)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for In the Loop on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 July 2009 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy more
Tagline:
The fate of the world is on the line. more
Plot:
The US President and UK Prime Minister fancy a war. But not everyone agrees that war is a good thing... more | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
6 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(115 articles)
Salt N' Pepa N' Linkerella
 (From FilmExperience. 18 November 2009, 10:55 AM, PST)
Bruno Leads British Comedy Awards
 (From WENN. 18 November 2009, 4:16 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Get In the Loop more (52 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Peter Capaldi ... Malcolm Tucker

Tom Hollander ... Simon Foster
Gina McKee ... Judy Molloy

James Gandolfini ... Lt. Gen. George Miller

Chris Addison ... Toby Wright

Anna Chlumsky ... Liza Weld

Enzo Cilenti ... Bob Adriano

Paul Higgins ... Jamie MacDonald

Mimi Kennedy ... Karen Clarke
Alex Macqueen ... Sir Jonathan Tutt
Johnny Pemberton ... A.J. Brown

Olivia Poulet ... Suzy

David Rasche ... Linton Barwick
Joanna Scanlan ... Roz
James Smith ... Michael Rodgers
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
106 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Certification:
UK:15 | Ireland:15A | New Zealand:R13 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:18A (British Columbia)
Filming Locations:
London, England, UK more
Company:
BBC Films more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Prior to filming, Armando Iannucci gained access to the US Department of State by flashing a simple photo ID to a security guard and saying "BBC. I'm here for the 12:30." He then spent a few hours walking around taking pictures for his set designers. more
Goofs:
Errors in geography: The London delegation to Washington arrives at National Airport, which is not equipped for international flights. The plane should have arrived at Dulles International Airport quite a distance away from the city. more
Quotes:
Malcolm Tucker: Do I look like I've ever set foot in a stationery cupboard? I do all my shagging in five-star hotels! more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Breakfast: (2009-08-26)" (2009) more
Soundtrack:
Allegro from Concerto grosso in G minor more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
Is "In the Loop" based on a book?
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
74 out of 90 people found the following comment useful.
Get In the Loop, 23 January 2009
8/10
Author: sundevil27 from Salt Lake City, UT USA

Is it a work of fictional farce or an insightful view of the members of the governmental bureaucracy? Probably in truth, In The Loop is a little bit of both, but more so its a whole lot of fun at the governments expense. There have been numerous films over the years giving us insight into how our government works, at times it sure looks bleak and unjust, but we sure haven't seen it in such a ridiculous view. In The Loop aims at making sure they scrutinize the bureaucratic desk jocks for all their worth. The film follows the Minister of International Development (Tom Hollander) after he has put his foot in his mouth, unintentionally announcing that war is unforeseeable. Back tracking and word-smith manipulations prove mute, fortunately for the Minister he's got big fans in the US who would like nothing more then to use the naive Brit in their political posturing. The hawks begin circling and before the Minister knows what game he's playing he's into deep and merely a puppet in the political theater.

There is a hint of a serious political thriller in the plot here, but In The Loop knows we've seen all that before so why not have a little fun, actually why not have a whole lot of fun and throw in lots of scalding four letter words and absolute British wit. Tom Hollander as the Minister of I.D. is dumb-foundingly perfect in his role and is well complemented by his bungling assistant Oliver (played exceptionally by Chris Addison). As the Director of Communications, Peter Capaldi steals the show with his relentlessly scathing superhuman vulgarity ridden wit. Those with a distaste for such colorful language should look elsewhere as their ears will certainly be on fire if they can last through a third of the film. Personally the language was not a problem for me, I appreciate a master of the finer words, and Capaldi has shown himself to deliver his lines with such craftsmanship that sailors around the world will be put to shame.

The Brits are a fantastic mess, but of course what international mess would be complete without the United States Govt.. And so comes the behemoth know as James Gandolifini, the Don Capo hasn't lost any of his on-screen presence. As the ol' war vet Pentagon General, Gandolfini is gruff and verbally abusive in a really mean spirited way, which is glorious. Those with a keen sense of cinema will notice how well the film shifts humor as the Brits come across the pond to the the dry humor of America. Gandolfini makes the most of his screen time, but on the American side the majority of the ridiculousness comes from Mimi Kennedy, as the Assistant Secretary of Diplomacy and her bickering 20 something Capital Hill brown nosing assistants. Director Armando Ianucci's delivers such a cynical sharp witted look at all things politically ridiculous and it works on so many levels. Fans of British humor will love this, its pureness to the form is perfectly meshed into the political platform that moves the comedy along with merely a few small bumps in the road. On the other side of the coin, those who enjoy making fun of those of the diplomatic persuasion will delight in the roasting of our governmental members.

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