Argo

 

Directed by Ben Affleck

Written by ChrisTerrio

With Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman and Victor Garber

 

Ben Affleck directs and stars in Argo, a political thriller based on events that took place in Tehran, Iran in 1979. The film opens with harrowing footage of militants storming and finally entering the U.S. embassy, brutally seizing 52 hostages during the Islamic revolution. 

Unbeknownst to the militants, six embassy workers escaped and received asylum in the house of Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor (Victor Garber). Argo details a plan developed to smuggle these six out of Iran—and what a far-fetched plan it was.

Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck), a CIA operative, is to pose as a producer looking for locations in Tehran to film a ‘Star Wars’ type of film, named “Argo.” He enlists the help of Hollywood to formulate a bogus script, elaborate story boards, costumes, posters, even mentions in the Hollywood trade papers. John Chambers (John Goodman) and Lester Siegelm ( Alan Arkin) are movie veterans conscripted to provide a sci-fi film that will pass the scrutiny of the Iranian officials.  These two men provide much-appreciated comic relief in this tense story.

Mendez creates fake passports for the six workers and coaches them on how to behave in their new identities as film crew workers. Their trepidation is palpable and understandable. One false move and they could be sent to prison—or shot.

The real story has been embellished to make “Argo” an intense entertainment. nBen Affleck will get a nod from the Academy Awards. Each of his characters has depth. We learn a little about what is going on in each of their lives. He mixes humor with life and death by including Hollywood stereotypes Alan Arkin and John Goodman, who never fail to produce the laughs.

Mr. Affleck’s attention to period detail is impeccable. The men’s shirts have wide collars, while others wear gold chains, eyeglasses with oversized frames, 1970s sideburns. The Iranian scenes were filmed in Istanbul, the Americans being oogled and jostled by obviously Islamic crowds. A hand-held camera is used to make the scenes all the more hair raising. 

It really doesn’t matter that parts of Argo stray from the real story. It is a film about real heroes:  Tony Mendez and the Canadian ambassador took huge risks to help the six Americans. The last half hour of the film is as terrifying as any you have ever seen. No need to question the historical details. It is an excellent film. By the way, any resemblance to the recent events in Libya is purely coincidental!