“Argo,” directed by and starring Ben Affleck, is perfection.
It’s a political thriller told with intelligence, period detail and a
surprising amount of humor for a serious look at the Iran Hostage crisis of
1979-81. “Argo,” Affleck’s third feature film as a director after Gone Baby Gone (2007) and The Town (2010), grabs you from the
opening sequences and doesn’t let go. And even though you know going in that
this is a true story, he has you on the edge of your seat as the tension builds
and builds. Affleck went to some
effort to make “Argo” look like it was shot in the 70s. Not only is the picture
intentionally grainy, giving it a home-movie feel, but the old Warner Brothers
logo is used at the start. The recreation of Tehran circa 1980 is effective
with exteriors shot in Istanbul and he uses archival footage of President
Carter, the Shah and Ayatollah Khomeini and old news footage of Ted Koppel,
Mike Wallace and Walter Cronkite to add more flavor of the period. Crisp pacing
of Affleck’s direction allows “Argo” to feel shorter than its 120-minute
running time and the exceptional balance of tone, humor and seriousness, makes
for an Oscar contender.
“Argo” opens with a compelling re-creation of the takeover
of the US Embassy in Iran by militant students. As civilians enter the
compound, first in a trickle then, once the gates are forced open, in droves,
employees and diplomats rush to shred and incinerate all sensitive material.
Six of them – Bob Anders (Tate Donovan), Lee Schatz (Rory Cochrane), Mark and
Cora Lijek (Christopher Denham and Clea DuVall), and Joe and Kathy Stafford (Scoot McNairy and Kerry Bishe) – escape and make it to the residence of
Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor (Victor Garber), where they are hidden away for
nearly 90 days. With pressure mounting for the safety of the six and the
ambassador and his staff, CIA director Jack O’Donnell (Bryan Cranston) calls agent
Tony Mendez (Affleck), an extraction expert, to devise a plan to get the six
people out. Mendez’ scheme is audacious. With the help of Hollywood make-up
artist John Chambers (John Goodman) and producer Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin),
Tony establishes a fake production company for a cheesy sci-fi flick called Argo and devises a cover story for the
trapped Americans that will, hopefully, allow them to pass through security at
the airport and board a Swiss Air flight. “Argo” is such a compelling movie
that I want to see it again…and again. 10/10/12
1 comment:
Ben Affleck has really turned into a fine film director. He has the ability to firmly sit you on the edge of your seat and hold you there from beginning to end. This film should get a best pic nomination.
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