'Argo' Review

It has been some time since my small post on the upcoming Walt Disney 'Lone Ranger' film starring Armie Hammer as the Lone Ranger and Johnny Depp as Tonto. But I felt that 'Argo' deserved a review, so here it goes folks, enjoy my scribbling haha.

The film opens on November 4, 1979, when Islamist militants took control of the U.S. Embassy in Iran. 52 Americans were taken hostage and held for 444 days until their eventual release. But six American's were able to sneak out of the Embassy and find refuge unbeknownst to the Iranian rebels, in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor (Victor Garber). The CIA, lead by Agent Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) hatched a plan to rescue the six house trapped by posing as producers of a fictional science fiction film. The idea was that Mendez would land in Iran and convince the six Americans to assume roles as screenwriters, directors and co-producers of the film and that they would all fly out of the country together once location scouting was complete in 48 hours.

In an effort to have the mission legitimized, Mendez recruited Hollywood producer Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) and Special Effects man John Chambers (John Goodman).

If the entire notion of the plan sounds as if Hollywood had concocted it- well you are half right. But Affleck sticks to the facts of the true events and ravels a bite-your-nails type thriller that is guaranteed to be rewarded with year-end nominations for Best Picture, Best Director and most certainly Best Supporting Actor for Alan Arkin.

This film was a masterpiece for Affleck. Every note, every frame of Argo looks authentic. The movie shifts between locations of Iran, Hollywood, and both the CIA Headquarters and the White House in this fantastic adventure. Every scene and character oozes with atmosphere and purpose and Affleck confidently and flawlessly directs himself as the expected hero of the film- a man who risk his own life and career for the lives of six strangers.

The conclusion of the film will have you on the edge of your seat- even if you are aware of the historically recorded outcome (I cite Apollo 13 as a reference). In the end, this movie is worth the money spent on the ticket. It is a film, that takes a piece of history that many of us were completely oblivious to, and presents a tale to bring six people home, using (to quote the film) "the best worst idea we have."

In the end, I highly recommend this movie, and award four out four stars for brilliant plot, acting, locations, directing and the fun references to classic science fiction of the 20th century.