After rows over expenses, second homes and who should bite the bullet, ‘Bumbling’ is 2009’s dictionary entry for a Minister of Parliament. Apt then, that one the year’s best films, Armando Lannuci’s political satire In the Loop, should show Westminster as a proverbial playground full of bullies and spineless cowards with feet in mouths.
Based on Lannuci’s BBC comedy The Thick of It, he’s kept many regular characters, including acid-tongued Scottish spin-doctor Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi) and wet-behind-the-ears ministerial aide Toby (Chris Addison), but had a slight cabinet reshuffle with the likes of Steve Coogan and James Gandolfini adding a dollop of Hollywood to the political shtick. Perhaps the biggest addition is lead Tom Hollander as the inept Secretary of State who accidentally tells a radio show that a war in the Middle East is ‘unforeseeable’, cue across-the-pond interest from Gandolfini’s uncompromising General Miller who aims to use the minister as a “meat-puppet” to stop the proposed war. But when other White House staff think differently Foster is ordered to travel to Washington for talks. While stateside Foster has to deal with Tucker watching his every move and calls from Blighty, where a livid Coogan campaigns at his constituency for a crumbling garden wall which he blames on the Minister.
Big screen outings for television comedies tend to run out of laughs after the time of an average episode, even more so for a crossover that’s aesthetically limited. But In the Loop revels in fly-on-the-wall filmmaking, sweeping shots of frantic politicians running past various landmarks are second nature to Lannuci who has stepped up from small screen to the big leagues with ease. He’s helped by a great script. Written as if carved with a knife, the dialogue is sharp and violently hilarious, so horrible that “you’ll be shitting teeth”
No one profits from the political banter more than Tucker, a figure bore from fire and brimstone with an addiction for the torture of ministers. His head resembles that of a chicken with rabies as he cluelessly runs around Washington trying to control the situation and interfere with a UN resolution. Literally, a breathless performance.
Indeed Foster and his aide Toby also look lost in a shiny world that is there to eat them up as they arrive in Washington at the beginning of the second act. But straight after travelling in a motorcade, thinking they’re in a movie, it’s clear that satire is unforgiving: Unlike stuffy Whitehall, the U.S state departments are modern, slick, as are the fast-talking, better-looking equivalents of the British ministers. Fresh-faced 23-year-old’s don’t run errands for fresh coffee, as Tucker finds out in a White House meeting, they run the country. After being insulted by the age of his appointment, Tucker storms out to make an angry call to London only to get the response: “You know they’re all kids in Washington. It’s like Bugsy Malone, but with real guns.”
During the final act, miniature battles ensue, mainly between Foster and the British tabloids. The media shift interest from slip-up quotes of war to Steve Coogan’s nutter protesting outside Foster’s local constituency. Cameos like this are rare - funny and pertinent. Meanwhile, veins on Tucker’s forehead look set to burst as he goes about last minute meddling at the UN meeting before he gets an epic standoff with Gandolfini’s general, using swearing and gritted teeth delivery as ammo and wry smiles as shields.
Topical to a point that exceeds irony, In the Loop hands the spade to politicians who dig their own grave amid issues parallel to real-life. Using jargon they don’t understand, British politicians threaten Anglo-American relations by not doing as they are told in a terrifically funny film in which has not only made swearing an art form, but made it a reason to go to war.
Joe Ellison
Joe E @ May 21, 2009
Jude Law: So British he played a 21st century Alfie and so smooth-like sleuth he’s playing Watson in the new Sherlock Holmes movie. It’s no surprise then that in 2003 Law shot to the top of a next Bond poll by a film magazine’s readers. Despite this producers never gave him a look in. He told Film 2006 “the Bond part never actually came my way. But then if I ever played James Bond that would rule me out ever playing a baddie wouldn’t it, and I would love to play a Bond baddie.” So watch this space.
Damien Lewis: The role of Bond baddie Gustav Graves from Die Another Day was offered to Lewis. The profile of a menacingly posh fencing enthusiast was ideal but he turned down the role while many of the book’s fans thought he should have been the lead. Tall, blue eyes, handsome features, raised in London and an education at Eton, the same institution that Bond attended, his CV was perfect. But he never got so far as a meeting. Perhaps he was overlooked because of his hair colour. We’ve praised a blond Bond but maybe the world just isn’t ready for a ginger one.
Eric Bana: Quentin Tarantino never got the go-ahead to shoot his Casino Royale script but if he got his own way he would of kept Brosnan on board and if poor Pierce thought himself to be over-the-hill, chances are Australian Bana would have filled the position. The Hulk star had been awash with rumour and pleaded he had no interest but if Quentin was at the helm he may have had his arm twisted. We’ve seen an Aussie Bond before in the form of George Lazenby. But then again, he couldn’t shoot a cows ar*e with a shotgun.
Clive Owen: In 2002 BMW released a series of short films under the title The Hire, where a rather mysterious Clive Owen, known only as the driver, would usually be perused by assassins. Replace the Beamer with an Aston Martin and you have James Bond. Before Daniel Craig got the gig speculation was rife that Owen was in head-to-head contention with him. Rumour has it that Craig won because Owen wanted a slice of the movies profit in his contract and producers didn’t agree. But he recently told Jonathan Ross in a serious tone that “it was complete media speculation, it was all whipped up”. Sour grapes?
Ewan McGregor: Daniel Craig wasn’t the first offered the tuxedo for Casino Royale. Ewan McGregor was director Martin Campbell’s first-choice Bond and was officially asked to play the role. McGregor turned it down and Campbell hinted that the Star Wars franchise hindered McGregor’s decision. “I think he got another job or decided he didn’t want it”. The Scottish actor later admitted that the job would have been “fun”. Such a shame, it would have been like Sean Connery with a lightsaber.
Colin Farrell: Bond knows two things, how to be picky about Martini’s and how to pick his ladies. Just on the grounds of his womanising ways, Farrell was the Ladbrokes 2-1 odds on favourite to pick up the Walther PPK in 2004. Even Pierce Brosnan championed Farrell as the one to take his throne, “he’ll eat the heads off them all.” Later that year the Hollywood hell-raiser himself talked himself out of it. “The idea of me playing James Bond got into the press, but it is not true. They should find someone the audience has no history with”
Christian Bale: For intelligence, presence, charm, gunplay and being British Bale was a perfect choice for Commander Bond when Brosnan retired. With American Psycho success as Bateman and gothic fanfare as Batman he could of walked into any lead role. In 2003 he declared his interest as 007, “James Bond is every British actor’s Holy Grail and in many ways the most recognised British character on the big screen.” But in 2004 he pulled himself out of the Bond running saying he was too young for the part. But after hearing his recent Terminator Salvation on-set hissy fit perhaps he’s still too immature.
Hugh Jackman: Another boy from Down Under, another wasted super-spy. In 2005 there was a power struggle between film producers, the Broccoli family and the studio, MGM. Broccoli wanted a low-key actor but MGM sought a showstopper like Jackman who topped William Hill’s next Bond frontrunners at the time. The Aussie actor was offered 007’s role but only if he committed to three pictures. He declined the offer. His friends said he didn’t want the danger of being typecast… Did anyone else spot Wolverine in Australia?
Sam Worthington: If you’re unsure who Sam Worthington is, you’ll probably know by the time Terminator Salvation and Avatar come out later this year. But in 2005 Casino Royale director, Martin Campbell, claimed that Worthington was in serious contention for the role of Ian Fleming’s brainchild, before it went to the brawnier Craig. Worthington’s acting wasn’t in question but a lack of experience and wetness behind the ears were the 29-year-old’s downfall. Just think. Pierce Brosnan could have played his dad.
Dougray Scott: British production company EON wanted the Scot Scott to hit the Casino in the 2006 re-launch of the franchise. His soft Connery-styled tones, moody persona and previous film credits made him a massive favourite. In an interview he said he would make Bond “Scottish and manly. I think Sean Connery was phenomenal. He had a great sense of humour and I think I’d try and bring that to it. As well as the dangerous strong side.” This blatant self promotion got him nowhere, leaving him gutted, really gutted.
Joe E @ April 1, 2009