Film: Argo

GENRE: Drama/Thriller

RATING: R for language & violent images

RUNTIME: 2 hours

STARRING: Ben Affleck (The Town, Hollywoodland)

Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Tate Donovan (Damages)

DIRECTOR: Ben Affleck (The Town, Gone Baby Gone)

WRITER: Chris Terrio (newcomer)

PLOT: During an Iranian revolutions, a CIA agent comes up with a risky plan to free six Americans behind enemy lines by having them pretend to be a Canadian film crew.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 It’s hard to believe that this story is actually true. It’s amazing that this was even attempted. Affleck and Terrio do an awesome of job of bringing this story to life. With a little bit of humour thrown in, Entertainment Weekly perfectly describes Argo as a mix between Ocean’s Eleven and Munich.  I will be shocked if this film doesn’t become a Best Picture nominee.

2 Affleck does some great work but I was really drawn to the acting of the American ‘hostages’. Ever since Damages, I have been increasingly impressed with how far Tate Donovan has come. The entire cast of Argo is stellar.

3 Affleck does a great job building suspense in this film. He makes the audience cringe in anticipation with his ‘hurry up and wait’ pacing. Many scenes keep you on the edge of your seat.

4 The only storyline that seems tacked on is Tony’s family situation. It seems cheesy and unnecessary.

5 Love the utterly gross hairstyles. Did they not have mirrors back then?

RECOMMENDATION: Watch it in theatres, it’s a keeper.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Winter Movie Preview