Film Review: Argo

Film review by Tom Hunt

Note: The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of RetoxMagazine.com

Ben Affleck Films

Over the years Ben Affleck has taken a lot of criticism, sometimes fairly but a lot of the time unfairly. Then something happened, he decided to take control of his own destiny. He began writing again (following the success of 1997 hit Good Will Hunting) but also took his experience from the set to go behind the camera, as well as in front of it. His directorial début, Gone Baby Gone, was received warmly throughout Tinsel Town and his follow up hit The Town (also choosing to act in this one) cemented his ability as a top class director. In 2012 he struck again sending excitement through the industry with his latest film, Argo, centred around the 1979 Iranian hostage situation.

The Film Plot

Argo follows the chilling Hostage situation in the American Embassy in Iran and how the C.I.A created the plan to get 6 escapees hiding out in the Canadian Embassy. The film opens with the very daunting images of mass protests in Iran, outside the United States Embassy. The walls are breached and chaos ensues in a 10 minutes blood pumping opening. Without knowing the history there's a genuine fear for what might happen to all of the people inside the embassy once the Iranians get in. A small group, Bob Anders (Tate Donovan) Mark and Cora Lijek (Christopher Denham, Clea DuVall) Joe & Kathy Stafford (Scoot McNairy, Kerry Bishe) Lee Schatz (Rory Cochrane) make it out onto the streets and find salvation in the Canadian embassy. From here time moves on a few weeks down the line and the escapees are still hiding out in the embassy as the hostage situation rages on. Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) is called in from the C.I.A to create a plan to get them out. The plan? To have them pose as a Canadian film crew on a scouting location in Iran for a film that doesn't exist, 'Argo'. He enlists the help of his friend John Chambers (John Goodman) a Hollywood make-up artist who helps him with the finer details of creating a fake film. He brings in veteran director Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) and together the 3 make the fake film seem believable. From here Mendez has to make it to Iran for the small task of convincing the 6 escapees they can pose as a Canadian film crew and convince not only the airport security but the Iranian public, who are hostile and on the lookout for Americans too.

The Talent

The cast isn't without stand out performances, and each in their own way help polish off the film's entertaining ride.

Ben Affleck plays the C.I.A exfiltration specialist brilliantly. He's a character with a difficult family life and that comes into the film slightly. We also see the great risk he has to take to get the escapees out. He plays a fine line between trying to be cool and calm and trying hiding his fear, which sometimes comes out.

Alan Arkin who has been putting in mighty performances for years now in his advancing age once again proves that he leads the way for veteran Hollywood actors, currently one of the best. Thoroughly deserves his Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor but sadly might just miss out to Christoph Waltz.

John Goodman plays the cheerful, kind hearted and all round likeable Hollywood make-up artist who kick starts the entire ploy for Mendez's mission. Goodman has a knack for playing the cheerful 'big guy' and again hits the spot for his role as John Chambers.

Each one of the actors who played the American escapees are superb but special mention has to go to Scoot McNairy who plays Joe Stafford because his character really shows the fear of the situation, that it was an impossible task with the greatest consequence on the line if it failed and props have to be given to this young actor who's slowly beginning to make a name for himself in the industry.

The Reality

There were many changes made for the film, and for any history geeks like myself who like to read up on the facts following films such as this you definitely should, but for dramatic purposes Affleck does a fantastic job of building up the tension throughout the film. The film skates over the great risk Ken Taylor took by giving the escapees refuse in his own personal residence in Iran. It also doesn't highlight that it was a joint American-Canadian mission. Sadly also it makes out that the British wouldn't help at all. This of course (for any who read the history) is false, and many people including the British and New Zealand did help the escapees, but as Affleck has stated depicting it this ways gives the idea that these people are utterly desperate and nearly out of hope. This situation makes for a much better film. The 5-minute opening highlights this through the setup of the scene but in particular the final 10 minutes are fantastically done. A lot of the story had to be missed out, sadly, as it would have been nice to give a bit more credit to the Canadians who helped create the situation in the first place; the film however decides to focus more on the character Ken Taylor, laying it all on him. The added element of Affleck’s character, Mendez and his difficult family life weren't needed as they featured very scarcely, but it's a nice touch that gives a 3 dimensional look for his character.

Although not as good as his previous outing The Town, Ben Affleck creates another hit with Argo and has a very big chance of taking the big award come February 24th.