Verdict-Argo is as emotionally gripping as a film can get. Argo scares you on how real it can be with it's great story, good characters, and accuracy on the history surrounding the movie. The film's power with it's tone not only makes you look differently on the world and society, but also on yourself as a person. It's a dark, intense political thriller that had such great dramatic moments it was hard to watch at times
Bottom Line: 3 Stars out of 5. It Was OK. Good movie, but I don't think there was anything special about it. OK acting, good story.
This is the 4th of last years Best Picture nominees that I've seen. If I had to rank them in order of my enjoyment I'd say : 1) Django Unchained 2) Silver Linings Playbook 3) Argo 4) Life of Pi
Directed by: Ben Affleck
Screenplay: Chris Terrio
Starring: Ben Afflec, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman
I would have rated it higher, but a few things held it back for me. For one thing, it felt like Ben didn't really have anyone to act against or with, especially when he got to Iran. It felt to me like he needed a partner. It's kind of crazy to think they would have entrusted one guy with the sole responsibility of making this work. Indeed, the real life Canadian Caper there was a partner. Just felt like Ben had no one to act against.
Not something I would normally complain about, but the total lack of any reasonably strong female character was glaring. There were a couple female hostages, but all the hostages were just “bleh” and there was no female major character, or even supporting character really. Like I said, not something I would normally complain about, but it felt really glaring in this movie.
The final thing that really hurt the movie for me was the highly exaggerated and ridiculous ending. SPOILER ALERT
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In real life they went to the airport and had no trouble, just a short delay because of mechanical problems with the airplane. In the movie there is a very tense scene with security, which then explodes and becomes crazy and ridiculous.
I know, its a movie, they wanted some tension at the end. But it was too much. First there was the whole “canceled” part of the plan. Then the tension over whether or not the tickets were ready and getting the Presidents permission. All at the last minute. Then there was security calling the office of the fake movie, which of course no one was at because the plan had been “canceled”. And then there was the last minute part where kids had been working to piece together millions of shredded sheets of paper to find pictures of the missing hostages, which of course they finally do just as they are trying to get on the plane. Cut to security chasing them down the runway in police cars and army trucks. Too much, too ridiculous, stretched way beyond belief and as it turns out nothing remotely like that happened. Movie was good enough on its own, a fraction of all that added tension would have been fine.
Bottom Line: Good movie, 3 starts out of 5. Not great. Not Best Picture material, at least in my opinion. But I did learn something because of this movie that I’ll post about later...
Yes I will continue the Saw reviews don't worry, but this is more important since it is the Best Picture of last year. So let's get right to it.
Argo is a movie that will have you on the edge of your seat whether or not you know the true story it is trying to tell. It tell a great thriller story that makes it seem less than 2 hours long. All that said it lacks in all of the other departments.
If you don't know the story I'll give you the jist of it. It's about a black ops CIA mission that happened in 1980s Iran where the Iranies captured the Americans at the American Embassy and held them hostage. Until 6 of them escaped and it is up to the CIA to get them out of Iran. The way they do that is to impersonate a fake film crew.
The story in this movie is the best part and I think it tells it very well, considering this movie gives you no bullshit filler parts. Every scene it gives you moves you on to the next thing which is both good and bad. The film does seem a lot shorter than 2 hours which is a personal preference to some, but it felt too short and left me wanting a bit more of a few things.
The story aside the film fails in character development. You really don't care for any characters in the film. The only reason you care is because they are American. Ben Affleck's character is boring and uninteresting and he does an okay job nothing really spectacular.
I have yet to see the other best picture films, but I really don't see how this one. I mean I do its political, its Ben Affleck, it has everything the academy wants. Now this is not a bad film at all. Its really good. But its missing something. It felt more like I was watching the History channel than a movie. It gave us, how they set up the plan and how they executed it. Now yes I know this isn't all historically accurate but you get my picture. Now thats not a bad thing, but it was missing something that could make this movie stand out on its own and to that I think it fails at doing.
Just returned from seeing Argo, starring Ben Affleck and many talented others, and I have to say this movie was outstanding. The story itself is fascinating, and the performance given by all the actors is fabulous. I wasn't sure how violent this movie would be, if there was going to be blood everywhere and vicious torture with all the rioting in Iran, but there really was none.
If you don't already know, here's the gist of the movie:
It focuses on six people who escape the American Embassy in Iran but can't return home because the rioters are out looking for them. Iran is pissed at America because their asshole of a leader is hiding out in the States, and we're not kicking him out. Anyway, the six Americans need to find their way home and the C.I.A. decides to do this by creating a fake movie as their cover-up, saying these people are part of a production crew for Argo (a sci-fi film) and are scouting locations in Iran.
I'm probably making it sound very confusing. You don't need to know all the details of what the movie is about- all you need to do is sit down and watch it, because it's the best.
There was a point a few years ago that Ben Affleck had become somewhat of a joke, or at the very least he was beginning to be taken less seriously as a box office draw. A string of misses, as well as being part of a "power couple" that grew more distasteful as time went on, Ben Affleck was on his way out in Hollywood. Then something happened. He directed Gone Baby Gone. And it was really good. I, for one, was more than pleasantly surprised at this side of Mr. Affleck. He had a talent that went far beyond acting and it was kind of exciting to witness. With Argo, his third directorial feature, I think it's safe to say that Ben Affleck has moved from "really good" to great as a director.
Argo tells the true story of CIA operative Tony Mendez's efforts to rescue 6 American Diplomats who escaped being taken hostage on the November 4, 1979 Iranian takeover of the U.S embassy and were hiding out at the Canadian Ambassador's home in Tehran. The rescue plan involved Mendez posing as a Hollywood producer scouting filming sites in Iran for a movie called Argo and leaving with his "film crew", the 6 American Diplomats.
Affleck has made a movie that brings suspense, humor, and an amazing attention to detail together to recreate this period in time almost flawlessly. The script reveals details about the characters and about that period of time without ever feeling like it's stopping the movie to give exposition. The cast here, ranging from Allen Arkin & John Goodman to Affleck & Bryan Cranston to Rory Cochran (always a joy to see him act) & Clea Duvall are amazing to watch. You really get the sense of dread from those playing the 6 diplomats. As silly as it sounds, whoever did the hair and makeup should be nominated for an academy award. There are actors in this movie I didn't recognize until at least halfway through the movie, and that attention to making sure the cast looked authentic to the time period helped draw me in even further to this film.
As it is October, we are right in the middle of Oscar bait season. Argo may not be as "artistic" as a film like The Master, or as ambitious as Cloud Atlas or as obvious an Oscar choice as Lincoln or Hitchcock. But it's a solid film with great acting, a tense story and direction that shows the potential of what could be a true auteur. I can easily see Argo in that Oscar nomination list come January.
Argo (Ben Affleck's third film as a director, due out this fall) was recently screened at a couple of festivals and sneak peek screenings and was received with magnificent reviews by critics ranging from The Hollywood Reporter to Deadline.
They claim it's all beautifully done, every little piece of detail from the costumes to the hair to the cinematography to the directing (of course). Three quarters of the film is said to be extraordinarily told, but the final act sells the entire film as a thriller. There is comedic relief in the film as well, so don't worry about that.
I'm personally extremely excited for this as The Town (another brilliant masterpiece of a film by Ben Affleck) blew my mind away and I'll forever be excited for anything Benny brings to the big screen (as director).
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