Argo (Movie Review)

Argo is a thrilling, nail-biting film that keeps viewers fully entertained with its captivating storyline and nearly perfect production. This political thriller captivates the audience by injecting dry humor and mild action while focusing on the task at hand without getting too politically confusing.

Director Ben Affleck did a fantastic job giving the film the exact feel for the time it is set in, the late 70s and early 80s. Everything from the shots to the outfits, cars, colors, and even music come together masterfully. It delivers what I would call one of the best dramas of its year.

A Fake Movie to Save Real Lives

Based on a true story, the film picks up when the Iranian revolution reached its peak. Six Americans escape an attack on the American Embassy in Tehran and take shelter at the home of Ken Taylor (Victor Garber), the Canadian Ambassador. CIA exfiltration specialist Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) comes up with an audacious plan to get the Americans back home.

With the help and support of Jack O’Donnell (Bryan Cranston), Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin), and John Chambers (John Goodman), he ventures into a mission that made history. The film gives a concise background on the facts without getting too profound or complicated.

It explains it all in a very original way. There are different uses of camera work, from aerial shots to handheld cameras. Although it gets dizzying at points, it makes it all the more believable and real, as the shots look like the original revolt.

This movie succeeds in getting the audience inside the story. Even though it doesn’t try hard at making a connection with the characters, since it only gives vital information, it manages to create a bond regardless.

Mastering the Art of Tension

I can’t recall the last time I was so tense watching a movie. It is so nerve-wracking at times that you easily feel scared for the characters because that’s how engrossing the story gets. Affleck effortlessly portrays the most levelheaded character in the film, controlling every situation without seeming mechanical.

He gives a solid performance even using body language to explain what he’s feeling or thinking. While some critics discuss how Ben Affleck plays a Latino character in real life (Tony Mendez), his performance here is undeniable. I’m happy to say that Cranston finally was given a character worthy of his acting skills.

This is something I’ve only had the opportunity of seeing in his TV show Breaking Bad. Here he’s the actor I’ve come to admire. Arkin and Goodman give us the comedic relief that helps with the tension created by other parts of the film.

It is done in the subtlest way without taking importance from the rest of the movie. Part of this comedy also comes from the film mocking governmental entities as well as even the director himself. The locations, sets, wardrobes, and cars help give the film authenticity, which is another key element to its success.

Hollywood Meets History

There are some scenes that add to the already felt tension of the film which feel a little too fictional or planned. This can take away a bit of the realistic aim of the film. Also, I think it works that we don’t get much of an inside look at the lives of the characters, except for vital pieces.

However, a little more could have been given to add to the connection the audience has with the six Americans in Iran. This movie has the ability to literally keep you at the edge of your seat. It provides some of the most intense, nail-biting scenes I’ve ever experienced in a movie theater.

Scriptwriter Chris Terrio gave such a solid compact story that Affleck was able to create a class-A film. He had help from producers Grant Heslov and George Clooney. You truly feel like a part of the film, so much so that at points you want to elbow some of the characters for their actions.

The film gives an inside look into a story that was classified until 1997. Many people might remember living through it. Having been part of history, some may already know the outcome of the film, but it stands on its own. It is all about the top-secret intense operation it takes us on.

It remains a strong competitor against heavyweights like Les Misérables for historical significance.