Argo tells a dramatized version of a true story from the Iran hostage crisis from 1979-1980. After granting the Shah asylum, the Iranians stormed the American embassy and took all of the diplomats working there hostage… …save six who ducked out a back entrance and found themselves living in hiding at the Canadian embassy. The CIA is tasked with sneaking these diplomats out and the best plan they can come up with involves a science fiction film.
Directed (and starring) Ben Affleck might be one of the most effective thrillers I’ve seen in a movie theatre in a long time. His sense of pacing defies the logic of time, as this film clocks in at over two hours but never feels long at all. The character acting in this film is across the board phenomenal, but the standouts (other than Affleck) are clearly Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, and Alan Alda.
The period setting sets the tone and the atmosphere at brings us into a world that shouldn’t seem as far away as it is. The sets and looks of the characters were pitch perfect, and the way it was utilized in the filmmaking reminded me of Steven Spielberg in Munich and the way the story was assembled reminded me of a Spielberg take on Alfred Hitchcock.
There are not enough good things I can say about this film.
Geeks will absolutely adore it. Not just because it’s a great film, but because it drops well placed geek references constantly in a way that’s natural to the story and the time period and doesn’t ever once make you roll your eyes. Each of them makes you smile. From Jack Kirby’s cameo to the Spielberg-like use of Star Wars action figures, it’s all a pleasure. From Planet of the Apes and Battlestar Galactica to Star Wars and the Muppets, we’re dangled into a world that gives us a snapshot of what popular geek culture was like at the time and I’m not sure anyone but a geek like Ben Affleck could have given it to us.
And that Hollywood sci-fi culture he shows us is such a stark contrast to the revolution going on in Iran and the things people live through there. This film is political thriller at its finest, offering us a commentary and a window into why Iran hasn’t been a friend to us in a long, long time.
Affleck is a fantastic filmmaker and every bit as good as an actor. He throws us right into the deep end of this pool and we’re rewarded for learning to swim.
I know he’s had a bad rap over the years, but it’s time to forget about all that.
His filmmaking career has proved that all is forgiven. And go see Argo. Now. It had me leaning forward, struggling to breath for the last hour… And I knew how it ended. It’s that well put-together.