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Tuesday’s Overlooked Film: In the Loop (2009)

This week’s selection as part of Todd Mason’s ongoing blogging series, Tuesday’s Overlooked Films, is the 2009 British political comedy In the Loop. This title was previously referred to on Todd Mason’s blog when he was talking about political TV shows. And as Todd mentioned to me yesterday while this film may not exactly fall into the purview of “Overlooked Cinema,” it definitely deserves much more notice and recognition than it received upon its initial release.

Here is a synopsis of the film (Source: Official IFC Films website):
From the creative team behind the award-winning BBC series The Thick of It, In the Loop pokes fun at the absurdity and ineptitude of our highest leaders. With everyone looking out for number one, and the fate of the free world at stake (but apparently incidental), the hilarious ensemble cast of characters bumbles its way through Machiavellian political dealings, across continents, and toward comic resolutions that are unforeseeable.

I previously heard about this film at the Tribeca Film Festival and missed my opportunity to see it. When it received a wider theatrical release, I felt like it came and went. A little while later, I ended up watching it on cable one day and am so glad I did. The sheer ineptitude of the key players is on one hand hilarious, while also sadly being within the realm of possibility (if a little less hyperbolic).

In the Loop features an all-star cast that includes James Gandolfini, Peter Capaldi (my personal favorite character), Tom Hollander, Anna Chlumsky, Chris Addison, Steve Coogan and Gina McKee.

Check out the trailer here:

In the Loop is directed by Armando Iannucci and co-written by Jesse Armstrong,  Armando Iannucci, Simon Blackwell and Tony Roche.

Awards and Accolades:

Official Selection: Sundance Film Festival 2009, Tribeca Film Festival 2009, Los Angeles Film Festival 2009
Nominated for: Best Adapted Screenplay & Outstanding British Film (BAFTA), Best Film, Director, Actor, Supporting Actor(British Independent Film Awards), Best Screenplay (NYFCC Awards), Best Adapted Screenplay (Academy Award)
Winner: Best Screenplay (British Independent Film Awards)

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Tuesday’s Overlooked ♥ Is All About LOVE ♥

In the spirit of celebrating the day of love, I have decided to compile a list of overlooked films that have a romantic bend to them. Last week I mentioned one of those films, Love Jones, and was inspired to expand that idea to a list of my favorite films (yes some are guilty pleasures) whose theme is love but did not get much love when they were released.

Love and Basketball For a long while this title was one of my favorite films of the previous decade and it continues to resonate with me. It earned its director Gina Prince-Bythewood an Independent Spirit Award and great buzz at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. The film stars a rarely disappointing Sanaa Lathan and House‘s (TV) Omar Epps.

 ♥ ♥ ♥

A Walk in the Clouds Yes, yes, I know  – it’s a Keanu Reeves romantic drama – but truth be told, I kinda like this film. The basic metric is the following: if after having seen a film in its entirety, if I can watch it again, then it is okay in my book. Blame the retro, old-movie stylizing of the piece or its lushness and beautiful photography. Whatever the reason some films click with members of the audience and this one does that with me. This is based on a 1952 film from Italy, Four Steps in the Clouds.

♥ ♥ ♥

Serendipity It surprises me that this film does not get shown in syndication so much or maybe it does and I am just not paying attention to it. Serendipity it is an offbeat, love story about the presence of fate. This 2001 confection stars John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

Kate and Leopold was a lovely, entertaining 2001 romantic comedy, which spans two centuries, starring Meg Ryan and a very dashing Hugh Jackman.

 ♥ ♥ ♥

Last but certainly not least, while not necessarily overlooked, the mind-bending valentine Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind deserves mention on this Valentine’s Day just because it is an awesome movie (and NOT the fact that it was partially shot in my hometown of Mount Vernon, NY). This is definitely in my top 2 Winslet performances.

♥ ♥ ♥

♥ What are some of your favorite romantically-themed films? ♥

 

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Tuesday’s Overlooked Film: Holiday Edition

Hopefully in my previous holiday post you found a few film titles that you have not yet seen.

In this Tuesday’s edition of Todd Mason’s ongoing series, I decided to scour the film archives of days of yore to find those films that rarely get mentioned nowadays in the mainstream.

It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947) This is a more recent discovery of mine; it is a light-hearted romantic comedy. Victor Moore is a New York City hobo who squats in a 5th Avenue mansion, which remains boarded up during the winter months (the owner (Charles Ruggles) moves down South during the winter). This year his plans go a bit awry because he decides to take in a recently evicted G.I. (don deFore) who brings along his war buddies and their families. They are also joined by a teen ‘runaway’ (Gale Storm), who does not disclose that she is in fact the owner’s daughter. Other people come to the house to partake in the ensuing zaniness.

O. Henry’s Full House (1952) This selection is a short film in a series of vignettes based off the works of O. Henry (William Sydney Porter). The story relevant to the Christmas theme is entitled “The Gift of the Magi;” it is the tale of a poor, young married couple who go to great lengths to get the other the ‘perfect’ Christmas present. In the process of doing so, we are all taught a valuable lesson about the spirit of giving. This segment features Jeanne Crain and Farley Granger as the married couple. Overall the film is a good watch especially for fans of O. Henry’s short stories. Another favorite  vignette of mine is “The Last Leaf.” John Steinbeck features as the film’s ‘narrator.’

Jeanne Crain and Farley Granger in O. Henry’s Full House

About a Boy (2002) * In looking at Hugh Grant’s acting career, not many would accuse him of being an actor who stretches his talents to their natural limits. That said, I do find him quite entertaining to watch in some films and no place is that more apparent than in this 2002 feature. He plays a foppish ne’er do well (the shock!) who is living off the royalties generated from his late father’s one-hit wonder Christmas song. When his world of joyful ambivalence collides with that of Marcus (Nicholas Hoult), a young boy who has had to act well beyond his years.  Their crossed paths takes them both on down a road that will irrevocably change  their lives. The Christmas holiday is a perfect bookend to the story. Also starring Toni Collette and Rachel Weisz, this is an adaptation of the Nick Hornby novel of the same name.

* Not really overlooked per se, as its global box office receipts were over 130 million.

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