ARGO - archive from 31st October 2012.

Tonite I have seen the new Ben Affleck starring and Directed offering 'ARGO', and I liked this . . . a lot!

This is a rich film based on a now declassified story hailing back to the 1979/80 Iran US Hostage crisis. Both behind and in front of the camera Affleck is proving his Directorial chops with every outing - first 'GONE BABY GONE', then 'THE TOWN' and now 'ARGO'. With age he is maturing in both disciplines, and his capturing of the era, the angst of the time, his attention to detail, and his story within a story approach to this subject matter is worthy of an Academy nod at least. 

Solid performances from Affleck as Tony Mendez, Bryan Cranston as Jack O'Donnell, John Goodman hamming it up brilliantly as John Chambers, Alan Arkin as Lester Siegel and a whole raft of other fine acting talent adding gravitas to a well crafted true story, suspense and tension, a deft approach and careful consideration of the time make this a winner, and worthy of your movie going dollar. 

In short, when the American Embassy in Iran is invaded several American citizens were taken hostage but six managed to escape. Mendez is a CIA Officer, who hatches a plan to rescue the six American citizens holed up in the home of the Canadian Ambassador in Tehran while the other Hostage Crisis unfolds. To do so he masquerades undercover as a Canadian Film Producer scouting for locations to shoot the next Hollywood Sci-Fi action blockbuster in Iran ('Argo' - the fake films name). Creating a phoney back story, leveraging some Hollywood relationships, and putting together a small but convincing film crew he embarks on his daring mission. With time against him, the local authorities becoming increasingly restless, and the CIA and the White House doubting the success of this covert mission behind enemy lines Mendez and his make-believe film crew need to think fast, talk fast and walk fast for their mission to succeed.

All the more satisfying too, as it's a movie within a movie, and true (albeit perhaps a little exaggerated), and I remember this crisis unfolding at the time. See it soon if you haven't already - I know you won't be disappointed.


Subsequently this film cost about US$44M to make and grossed about US$235M worldwide, and all up had an award haul of 77 wins and 101 nominations globally including three Academy Awards for Best Film, Best Screenplay and Best Editing together with four other nominations. It also picked up the Best Picture and Best Director Awards at The Golden Globes plus three other nominations, and three BAFTA Awards for Best Film, Best Director and Best Editing and four other nominations. Justly deserved.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-