In the Loop: Difference between revisions

'''Bob:''' I could request the glass be frosted.<br />

'''Linton:''' ''Frosting is on cakes.'' }}

* [[Comedic Sociopathy]]: With his big baldy head, Sir Jonathan Tutt is a magnet for it.

* [[Compensating for Something]]: Toby makes some sniggering comments of this nature about the Washington Monument. Malcolm bluntly shuts him up by caustically remarking that the only way Toby is ever likely to get anything remotely similar to commemorate his life is if "you buy a fucking Toblerone."

*** Simon Foster's actions here are a [[No Celebrities Were Harmed|thinly-veiled reference]] to [http://www.timeout.com/film/features/show-feature/7258/armando-iannucci-on-in-the-loop.html Clare Short MP].

* [[Downer Ending]]

* [[Establishing Character Moment]]: "How'd your team do at the weekend?" "Alright, we won!" "Yeah? Hehehehe... ''wanker''."

* [[Establishing Shot]]: The film opens with a shot of Malcolm sweeping into [[Whitehall|Number 10]] in his [[Badass Longcoat]]. It continues in this vein as the action moves between [[Whitehall]], [[The White House|the White House]], the UN building and Simon's constituency in Northamptonshire.

* [[Girly Run]]: "Where's the War Committee?" Malcolm gets lost in Washington... and again at the UN.

** Toby bursting in late smelling like a pissed seaside donkey.

{{quote| '''Jamie''': Right, that's enough of the fucking Oxbridge pleasantries...<br />

'''Toby''': ''[Puzzled]'' What's 'Oxbridge' about saying 'hello'?<br />

'''Jamie''': '''''Shut it, ''[[Love Actually]]''! DO YOU WANT ME TO HOLEPUNCH YOUR FACE?!''''' }}

* [[Hauled Before a Senate Subcommittee]]: Inverted: everyone's ''dying'' to be part of the so-called 'Future Planning Committee', better known as the War Committee.

* [[Heroic BSOD]]: Although not strictly a hero, as his career rapidly takes a dive-plunge straight down the crapper Simon Foster ends up in the U.N Mediation Room frantically eating mints, [[Thousand Yard Stare|staring blankly into space]] and remarking that his internal thoughts seem to be an endless loop of him shouting "Oh, shit!" at himself in a distant voice "like a car alarm in the middle of the night".

** Paul Michaelson: "Am I calm? I'm fucking ZEN!"

* [[I Am Spartacus]]: Referenced in the infamous fax machine scene.

* [[Ice Cream Koan]]: "In the Kingdom of Truth, the man with one fact is king." Linton likes to deliver these, which is probably why his [[Professional Butt Kisser|butt kisser]] Chad is fond of them too. Chad's tend to be much, much worse, though:

{{quote| '''Toby Wright:''' You speak entirely in parables, don't you? You're like a crap Jesus.<br />

** A slightly different one happens when Malcolm and General Miller finally have the face-to-face confrontation they've been building up to. Miller says [[Badass Boast|"I'll punch you in the face so hard you'll be shitting teeth"]], which Malcolm is completely unperturbed by because he makes [[Cut His Heart Out With a Spoon]] threats all the time, and it would be extremely damaging to Miller's career. However, one staring match later, Malcolm realises that Miller actually would do it, regardless of the political damage. His attempt at brushing it off and ending the conversation is handled fairly well, but he is clearly backing down. This makes [[Badass|Miller]] possibly the only character in either the film or the [[The Thick of It|TV series]] to [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|make Malcolm run away from an argument.]]

* [[Older Than They Look]]: The actors playing the young [[The White House|White House]] staffers ("Your master race of highly-gifted toddlers") are all Older Than They Look. As is Chris Addison.

* [[Only Sane Man|Only Sane Woman]]: Judy appears to be one of the only people in the movie with her head screwed on fully. Needless to say, everyone pretty much ignores or abuses her and Toby spends most of the movie actively plotting against her. {{spoiler|She ends up having the last laugh over him as the whole thing ends up completely destroying his career while she emerges unscathed.}}

* [[Playing Against Type]]: James Gandolfini as Pentagon Dove General Miller

* [[Unusual Euphemism]]:

{{quote| '''Liza:''' How far would you go with Linton, you freaky little stalker? Downtown? Or all the way up Brokeback Mountain?}}

* [[Villainous BSOD]]: In the Meditation Room Malcolm finds himself lost for words, unable to think of a decent threat for Olly, before Olly leaves him staring into space.

* [[Violent Glaswegian]]: Malcolm and Jamie ride again: "The fax machine was there and it's easier to kick."