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      In the Loop

      Released Jul 24, 2009 1 hr. 46 min. Comedy List
      94% 179 Reviews Tomatometer 82% 100,000+ Ratings Audience Score During an interview, British Cabinet Minister Simon Foster (Tom Hollander) delivers an off-the-cuff remark that war in the Middle East is "unforeseeable." Profane political spin doctor Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi) tries to cover up Foster's faux pas, but the ill-conceived comment is picked up by a warmongering American official. Foster is invited to Washington, D.C., where a war of words brews as politicians maneuver, manipulate and deceive each other before a U.N. vote on military action. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Mar 01 Buy Now

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      In the Loop

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      In the Loop

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      Critics Consensus

      In the Loop is an uncommonly funny political satire that blends Dr. Strangelove with Spinal Tap for the Iraq war era.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Sammy B I cannot imagine being friends with anyone who didn't absolutely love this movie. If you don't "get it", you don't "get" much in this life. Truly fabulous. One of my all time favorite films. Brilliantly funny. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/24/24 Full Review Nina I saw it in the cinema when it came out and laughed myself silly, then bought the DVD, then bluray. I've seen it maybe six times and have lent it to friends at least as many times. One of my top five, if not top three, pick-me-up scathingly hilarious movies. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/21/23 Full Review Mark C Brilliantly funny and well acted. Watch again today for the 10th time! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Nice, witty, entertaining, and so cruelly actual. I enjoyed it a lot Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review William L "I just wasn't expecting to see you here. Well, physically here. You're always in my heart." (With heavy British sarcasm) It seems that most substandard political satires come up short not because they shy away from some sort of edge, but because they end up leaning towards self-importance by forgetting one key factor - actual humor. This is a film that very seldom drops explicit references to the human toll of a war that was known in advance to be not only a political blunder but one that would carry a massive cost in human lives, but leaves just enough to keep both the humor and the despondency for the human race equally sharp. Personal weakness, cowardice, individual ambition, and misrepresentation of facts each played a role in the decision to send major US troop deployments to the Middle East, but this gem of a screenplay twists them for laughs in a manner that is less disrespectful to the victims of the conflict than it is lambasting to those that engineered it unnecessarily. Capaldi immerses himself in a character that is full of nothing but venom, curse words, and clever barbs, and Hollander is a delightfully self-reflective idiot, while a stellar supporting cast each deliver top notch performances to flesh out a network of ineptitude and soft power. Special shoutout to David Rasche, who I was unfamiliar with before this film but who is note-perfect. You can enjoy In the Loop for its clever insults and frequent swearing alone, but it's all dressing for a top-notch political satire that delivers situational and character-based comedy with a backdrop that feels chillingly real. (4/5) Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/10/22 Full Review Audience Member Big fan of the TV series this movie is based on (The Thick of It). This movie felt like a step down. Bigger budget, better camera's, some higher profile actors, yet all that doesn't translate into a movie that is better or even rivals the TV series. Capaldi as Tucker is of course the highlight, swearing and spinning as only he can. Rehashing the other characters, especially Ollie and Glen is just unforgivable, and the American cast members don't add anything. On itself probably not as bad, but when you're a fan of the TV series this is based on, or spun off, it just doesn't cut the mustard. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Alonso Duralde TheWrap You probably wouldn't want to spend three hours listening to Alan Partridge's drive-time radio broadcast, but this idiotic DJ delivers a solid 90 minutes of cinematic entertainment. Oct 24, 2018 Full Review Deborah Ross The Spectator The performances are outstanding, and there are many laugh-out-loud moments as confirmed by the fact that I laughed out loud. Aug 29, 2018 Full Review Ed Koch The Atlantic This alleged satire, which received four-star treatment from other critics, left me with a ho-hum and sorry feeling that I had wasted an evening seeing it. Jan 17, 2018 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review A durable, smartly-written assemblage of highly quotable material that will continue to be funny no matter how many times you see it. Rated: 4/4 Sep 4, 2023 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy A vicious satire with ice in its veins and poison in its fangs. Rated: 3.5/4 Apr 10, 2022 Full Review Jason Best Movie Talk For all those still seething over the cynical manipulation and mendacity behind Bush and Blair's rush to war in Iraq, Armando Iannucci's blistering political satire In the Loop offers a measure of catharsis. Nov 24, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis During an interview, British Cabinet Minister Simon Foster (Tom Hollander) delivers an off-the-cuff remark that war in the Middle East is "unforeseeable." Profane political spin doctor Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi) tries to cover up Foster's faux pas, but the ill-conceived comment is picked up by a warmongering American official. Foster is invited to Washington, D.C., where a war of words brews as politicians maneuver, manipulate and deceive each other before a U.N. vote on military action.
      Director
      Armando Iannucci
      Executive Producer
      Paula Jalfon, David M. Thompson
      Screenwriter
      Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
      Distributor
      IFC Films
      Production Co
      BBC
      Genre
      Comedy
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jul 24, 2009, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Sep 27, 2016
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $2.4M
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