Argo

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Argo.

Directed by Ben Affleck.

Written by Chris Terrio.

Based on the article "Escape from Tehran". Written by Joshuah Bearman.

Review #183

MPAA Rating: R for language and some violent images.

Run Time: 120 min

Cast

Ben Affleck...Tony Mendez

Bryan Cranston...Jack O'Donnell

Alan Arkin...Lester Siegel

John Goodman...John Chambers

Victor Garber...Ken Taylor

Tate Donovan...Bob Anders

Clea DuVall...Cora Lijek

Scoot McNairy...Joe Stafford

Rory Cochrane...Lee Schatz

Christopher Denham...Mark Lijek

Kerry Bishé...Kathy Stafford

Kyle Chandler...Hamilton Jordan

Chris Messina...Malinov

Zeljko Ivanek...Robert Pender

Titus Welliver...Bates

Keith Szarabajka...Adam Engell

Bob Gunton...Cyrus Vance

Richard Kind...Max Klein

Ben Affleck has had a curious career as an actor. He's been in some hits. Good Will Hunting and The Town instantly come to mind. There have been some big time misses too. Reindeer Games, Gigli and my personal favorite car wreck, Daredevil. That movie was so bad that Affleck himself has admitted it's atrocity.

That's big of him but it changes nothing.

So instead of cranking out trash he decided to change things up and go behind the camera. It has worked. Gone Baby Gone was his first shot in the chair and it was a really good film. He upped the ante with The Town which included top notch performances from himself and the rest of the cast. His latest effort tells the amazing true story that until 1997 never happened. Is this Affleck's best film to date? The debate can be made that it is. I personally don't think so.

It doesn't change the fact that Argo is a terrific film.

Plot

A dramatization of the 1980 joint CIA-Canadian secret operation to extract six fugitive American diplomatic personnel out of revolutionary Iran. 

Being 4 years old when this actually happened I had no idea what the world was like back then and the coverage that kept people glued to their TV's. Affleck did a great job presenting that while at the same time showing the urgency of the operation. The hostage situation at the US embassy lasted well over a year but the clock was ticking on extracting the 6 refugees in the Canadian ambassador's house. This was well crafted.

Another scene that I particularly enjoyed is a very clever montage between the hostage takers speaking to the press and the table reading of the "Argo" screenplay. The dialogue was conscientiously weaved together to form a free flowing narrative. Well done.

It shows Affleck's growth as a director.

It makes sense when you think about it. Having worked with some of Hollywood's best and brightest directors like Gus Van Sant, Joe Carnahan and John Madden he learned what to do. He also worked with some of the worst like Stephen Sommers and Michael Bay he learned what not to do. Armed with that knowledge he has improved on every film he's made.

There wasn't much to do here story wise with the exception of tweaking a few details here and there to protect classified information. There was also some "Hollywood-ing" of the film. Particularly in the last act. It may seem like a gripe here but it for the most part it played very well. This was another skill that Affleck has honed nicely. He tactically plays through the final scene and paces the tension  almost pitch perfect. It loses it's steam right at the end.

You will see where.

The cast like in The Town was top notch and stellar headlined by not Affleck but Alan Arkin. He stole the show in my opinion. A film with subject matter this serious needed some type of relief and Arkin provided it in spades. He also provided some "Hollywood" to the film as the "producer" of Argo. His character was over the top when needed and serious when needed. Typical tinseltown archetype.

The look of the film was also very authentic. I've always marveled at how period films are made. Especially ones that are made in a timeline that I can identify with. You can't just build 1980's Tehran on a sound stage. You have to go on location and being able to make their locale look like the actual spot where this incident took place is very impressive. This is another highlight of Affleck's talent as a director. He respects and pays attention to details. It's always the little things that make the difference.

Ben Affleck has reinvented himself from an actor that I could live without to a director that I am more than happy to live with. He keeps this up he'll be challenging the heavyweights in the biz for a shot at the title.

Just as long as he stays clear away from The Justice League movie that he was rumored to direct.

On the 5 star scale. Argo gets 4 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today. Up next is Seven Psychopaths.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"