"Argo" directed by Ben Affleck, starring Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman.
Argo is a true story which reflects true life events dating back to 1979 dealing with a violent revolution in Iran and how the CIA got involved with the escape of 6 American diplomats. This was a time when America had close ties with Iranian dictator Reza Pahlavi and did business by taking control of the oil field thus giving him all the profit with little else going to the people. The opening scenes show a storm of protesters swarming an American embassy as the diplomats are taking shelter along with arming themselves. Six of the diplomats escape and find exile in the Canadian embassy. It is up to the CIA and Tony Mendez (Affleck) to ensure a safe getaway for these American diplomats. None of them have a plausible idea in how to get them back home until Mendez decides to hire a film crew to produce a fake movie titled "Argo" and film it on location in Iran where the ambassadors are to rescue them. He goes to Iran with the identity of a Canadian film producer to rescue these people in hiding in a time of hatred towards the Americans.
This was a very well executed film. I thought that this was going to be a somewhat mediocre film because alot CIA movies I find are very cold, dull, unentertaining, and plain hard to get (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy...). This movie manages to get to the point and be an entertaining thrill ride of suspense. This movie often displays warm moments of comic relief from Arkin's and Goodman's characters. This manages to be an unusual yet intriguing story. You really feel for what these American diplomats have to go through yet you don't know which side to root for because it is a very distressing political situation they are in. The Americans are power hungry when the Iranians are violent and restless. This movie often reflects on events that still happen today with political unrest in the middle east. Which brings up a good message that war never changes and it is often cyclical in some parts of the world. This film had an old panavision look to it which I loved and remained loyal to the style of the 1970s. There were very intense moments of suspense that stressed me and the people next to me out in the theatre. Ben Affleck picked a very good lead character to play as and will most likely get a nomination. In fact this movie might get a nomination. On the down side, like all political thrillers it is a bit hard to understand at times and Ben made the ending a tad schlocky and hollywood but I didn't care about that because the movie held my interest. This gets a grade of: B+.
I've been following this film since 2011. I was skeptical about the casting because most of the cast was in Ben Affleck's old friend,Kevin Smith, in his film, Red State. The film was about this guy and his two friends who decide to go and met this lady on the internet, but she drugs them. Afterwards, it turns out they are captured in a church held by the local minister, who, it's turns out, has been killing boys for their sexuality and their "sins". It's a good film to watch on netflix, and though I was peculiar on casting, which worked, I think it will work with Argo.
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