Scene #18: Malcolm Tucker

This is the third entry in a series in which I'll countdown my 20 favorite scenes from the last 10 years in movies. To catch up more with the idea of this project, to see the other entries on the countdown, and to find out how you can contribute, click here.

In the annals of history, there have been some inept government officials (like everyone in Washington D.C. from 2001-2008). But rarely is this total ineptitude funny.

In the 2009 British comedy In the Loop, stupid people in powerful places managed to be genuinely side-splitting. These characters are leading the world's major superpowers to the brink of war, yet they do interviews calling the war "unforeseeable" and promoting the work they're doing to rid the world of diarrhea.

None of the characters in this film, however, holds a candle to Malcolm Tucker, played marvelously by Peter Capaldi. Malcolm is perhaps the foulest, crudest film character I've ever seen, and he isn't afraid to let loose on anyone, including four-star generals.

The scene below is our first real introduction to Malcolm, and we get a taste of just how vicious—and funny—he could be:



There really were a half-dozen scenes that could have been the In the Loop representative for this countdown. It's just too funny a film—and Tucker is too amazing a character—to ignore.

Tomorrow's entry will be a little less profane. It's also my first guest post, so be sure to check back!