Iannucci's satire to open Glasgow Film Festival

The spin-off from the BBC satire The Thick Of It will be unveiled at the Sundance Film Festival tonight, where it has already been highly praised by reviewers who attended a preview screening, before heading to Iannucci’s birthplace.

The film follows a political innocent who becomes embroiled in Washington’s spin machine as war looms in the Middle East. Stars include Peter Capaldi and Chris Addison, who reprise their TV roles, as well as Sopranos actor James Gandolfini.

Allison Gardner, co-director of the Glasgow festival, said: ‘I am thrilled that we are able to open the fifth Glasgow Film Festival with In The Loop.

‘The film couldn't be more timely and arrives fresh from its world premiere at Sundance. We are extremely pleased that Armando Iannucci and members of the cast will travel to Glasgow to attend the UK premiere. The festival has come such a long way in such a short time and we couldn't hope for a better film to begin our most ambitious festival programme.’

In The Loop will be screened at the Glasgow Film Theatre twice on the opening night of the 11-day festival, February 12, and again the following night.

At Sundance, trade magazine Variety said that ‘intelligent political satire this expertly acted is nothing to sneeze at’.

The Times, in a five-star review, claimed that ‘this stark, foul-mouthed black comedy is an artfully written skit that combines pin-sharp characterisation with brutally effective one-liners’, adding: ‘It’s all so outstanding, from the performances to the one-liners to the plot, which climaxes with a bathetic twist that seems chillingly possible. ‘

But Screen International sounded a note of caution, warning that the film’s ‘boundless cynicism will test the demand for political satire in an Obama-infatuated America’.

Published: 22 Jan 2009