Argo - A Gripping Movie

Argo Movie Review – A Gripping Tale

‘Argo’ directed by Ben Affleck is a gripping tale set during 1979 Iranian Revolution when Islamist militants stormed the US embassy taking 52 American hostages. Six Americans manage to escape and take shelter in the home of Canadian ambassador. The story of Argo revolves around how Tony Mendez played by Affleck plots the escape of these 6 Americans in a daring and outrageous plan: Mendez will fly into Iran with fake passports from Canada one for himself and 6 for the other six compatriots, who are scouting locations for a sci-fiction Hollywood movie named “Argo” in Tehran.

The movie looks realer than real with Mendez getting the background detailing in place – right from right documentation and hiring real backers from Hollywood studios. What makes the story believable is it pans out in an uncomplicated way. The acting is top notch from everyone involved. Affleck himself gives a low key well nuanced performance. Bryan Cranston is superb as a no non sense CIA boss. But the clever liners of the movie and the best laughable dialogues are between John Goodman and Alan Arkin who play a pair of jaded movie veterans. A word for excellent casting of actors who are playing the six American escapees – they play their parts competently.

For his third outing behind the camera after Gone Baby Gone and the Town, Ben Affleck chooses this gripping tale of Iranian hostage crisis of 1980’s and handles it with great dexterity. Argo is by far Affleck’s best work

I would give 3.5 out of 5 for Ben Affleck’s Argo. Its binary view of history makes it fall just short of being a master piece.