When I first read about
Argo, I naturally assumed that the
story had been made up. So imagine my
surprise when I find out that it was actually based on a true story. The story of Argo is usually the kind of thing that only happens in the movies
and even then it would be difficult to believe.
Nevertheless, Ben Affleck makes a movie that never fails to be
compelling.
Argo
opens up with an uprising in Iran that results in the overtaking of the
American embassy and the Iranians taking everyone inside hostage. However, six embassy employees manage to
sneak out the back shortly before the building was captured and find refuge at
the home of the Canadian ambassador. Figuring
that it’s only a matter of time before the Americans are found and killed, the
U.S. government attempts to devise a plan to get them out of the country. CIA agent Tony Mendez comes up with the idea
to smuggle them out of Iran by having them pose as a Canadian film crew
scouting locations for a fake sci-fi movie.
Ben Affleck’s career as
a director has been short, but he has already proven himself to be a very
talented director and that has never been more evident than with Argo.
He sets the tone of the 70s well and manages to include some
surprisingly funny jokes about Hollywood without undermining the severity of
the circumstances. Even though his name
may have top billing he never hesitates to share the screen with his talented
supporting cast and Argo is all the
better for it. If anything, the
supporting characters are some of the best parts of the movie including some
standout performances from Alan Arkin and John Goodman. While it’s likely only one of them will come
out of this with an Oscar nomination both actors are very deserving candidates.
Argo
has emerged as the early frontrunner to win the Academy Award for Best Picture
and it’s not hard to see why. It’s an
intelligent, elegantly written, well-paced thriller that is certain to make a
big splash at this year’s Oscars.
Grade: A
