Argo See This Academy Award Nominated Film

Argo is certainly a movie that will please audiences and give you a history lesson to boot.  The incredible true story is brought to life aptly by star and director Ben Affleck and it is timely considering the string of embassy attacks of late.  It’s best going into this movie not knowing the particulars and that’s easy because the story was fairly recently declassified by the CIA.  I can’t say for certain how glamorized it has been made and that may be the point because Hollywood had a big part to play in the story, now and then.  I can always do some research on the topic but I got a deadline to maintain.

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It’s such a compelling story that really its only flaw is Ben playing the lead.  Not that he’s terrible, but he always seems like he’s grinding his teeth before he gives an impassioned line.  He’s better playing jerks in such films as Mallrats and Dazed and Confused.  Maybe it’s just easy playing jerks or more fun to watch.

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In spite of Affleck, the cast is quite good and everybody looks like they stepped out of the late seventies.  Velma from Scooby Doo even shows up (see if you spot her).

Alan Arkin and John Goodman, respectively playing a big-shot producer and special effects engineer, lighten the tense hostage drama back in Cali with quite a few wisecracks, all the while saving the day.

I say tense (and I’m sure it was, at the time) but there is one other thing that bothers me about this flick: it’s based on a historical event.  And we all know how it will end, or, at least, can assume considering we haven’t gone to war with Iran.  The storming of the embassy, the overwhelming anti-American sentiment in Iran, and the unique escape plan are all well covered.  The story is fascinating but the stakes aren’t as high, if only because you already know the ending.  This is where the mystery of fiction might have the ultimate upper hand on true life.  Can you think of any historical dramas that bring the suspense?

Oh yeah, and hooray for Canada.  You saved our bacon.

11 thoughts on “Argo See This Academy Award Nominated Film

  1. I must say, I’d really like to check this movie out, but I have a sad feeling I might not get to until I go back to Colorado. Is it already out on video in the US?

    Nice review!

    • In your intro on FB, you said read the review once you’ve seen the movie. I was trying not to give too much away, but I guess I did basically give away the ending. Or is that your advice for all reviews?

      • I was confused for a minute, but I guess yes, that’s my advice for all reviews. I just like to have as much surprise as I can going into a movie. But I’d definitely not say you gave away the ending (or if you did, I was too dense to pick up on it!).

  2. I love your Velma reference! I thought Argo was really enjoyable, but completely agree with your Affleck acting statement. It was kind of strange because Arkin and Goodman were kind of goofy but Affleck played it completely straight and boring. I kept hoping he would calm down a little (although he was in a pretty tense situation I guess). I think Affleck does best in comedies. I think he is super charismatic but in serious roles he is a bit too brooding. He was the bomb in Phantoms though!

    As far as suspenseful historical movies I can say Zodiac, Munich and Zero Dark Thirty were pretty nail-biting even though I knew the outcome. I thought Affleck did a great job making that final airport scene excruciatingly suspenseful when I knew the outcome.

    • Thanks Djake
      yet another couple of movies to add to my watch list. Zodiac was great but i love everything Fincher does. There were certainly suspenseful elements to Argo, and, by all accounts, it is a tense drama. Just not suspenseful enough for me, for some reason.

  3. I finally just saw this movie, and I thought it was great! I give it 16 beards and mustaches out of 17!

    I thought it was sufficiently suspenseful, even though I ultimately knew (vaguely) what the outcome would be. So if they can even get ANY suspense in situations like that, I’d say that’s a fair accomplishment.

    I remember after “Good Will Hunting,” how everyone was saying that Affleck was the bum and that Damon must have been the one with all the promise. But now it seems they may have to re-think that idea.

  4. Just saw Argo! I was nauseusly nervous the WHOLE movie! The suspense kept me from sipping my beer at all. I was just glued to the story so much. Great film. However, I think Mike said it well when he felt the stakes didn’t seem so high for as suspenseful as it was making us feel. I’m probably just too ignorant though to really understand the consequences for such a mission to fail. I also agree with Sitzman on the rating: 16/17.

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