In
1979, Militants
storm the U.S.
embassy in Tehran
in retaliation for the nation's sheltering the recently deposed
Shah.
More than 50 of the embassy staff are taken as hostages, but six
escape and hide in the home of the Canadian ambassador Ken
Taylor.
Argo is the joint CIA-Canadian secret operation to extract six
fugitive American diplomatic personnel out of revolutionary Iran.
Directed, Produced and starring Ben Affleck, this is a dramatic
telling of a true story.
Cast
Bryan Cranston as Jack O'Donnell
Alan Arkin as Lester Siegel
John Goodman as John Chambers
Tate Donovan as Bob Anders
Clea DuVall as Cora Lijek
Christopher Denham as Mark Lijek
Scoot McNairy as Joe Stafford
Kerry Bishé as Kathy Stafford
Rory Cochrane as Lee Schatz
Victor Garber as Ken Taylor
Who
will like this:
Anyone
alive to see the red, white and blue polyester suits of the
bicentennial of the USA will be familiar with the topic of this
movie. However, I'm not sure how many people are familiar with the
way those 6 diplomatic employees were rescued. Those who do know the
facts, will know that Argo takes some dramatic license much like “A
Beautiful Mind”. I think older teens and 40 somethings and over
will be drawn to this. It's a dramatic history lesson that is a good
emotional journey.
Phantom
Thoughts
I
really enjoyed this movie. I think Ben Affleck did an incredible job
acting and directing this film, which is so hard to do normally. I
don't know if I've seen him in any other role like this and the way
the movie flowed and showed suspense when there really was little to
be had was done brilliantly. Alan Arkin was fantastic as the
fictitious Lester Siegel (his character was a compilation of real
life people involved), and John Goodman's portrayal of Hollywood
make-up artist John Chambers was just outstanding!
There
were a few historical inaccuracies, but what movie based on a true
story doesn't? I think the choices made in adding or taking away from
what really happened did not hinder the main points of this event. I
believe the biggest differences were that it made the CIA look like
they had more to do with the rescue than they actually did and
diminished the Canadian effort somewhat. Also, there were some tense
situations that were added to give suspense than what actually
occurred. The last part of getting the diplomats out ran a lot more
smooth than was depicted in this film.
It's
kind of difficult to make a movie about something that happened where
you already know how it's going to end and make it exciting and
interesting. Something that still keeps your attention of if they
will make it or not, similar to what Ron Howard did in “Apollo 13”,
is not an easy task, but it is pulled off successfully by Affleck.
I
really liked the end of the movie during the credits as well, where
the passport photos of the actual people were put side by side with
the actors who played them, as well as archive pics from that time
with corresponding scenes in the movie. When a movie that has been
out for a month and a half still gets applause from the audience, you
know you have experienced something great. I can easily see a few
Oscar nominations for Argo.
Until
next time, see you in the center seat.
