***This Review May Contain Spoilers***
Now I know that in the past I have stuck to reviewing sci-fi and superhero movies but a huge part of my nerd-dom is for film and this time year also gets my film nerd flag flying. While other people see fall as the time of year that a chill comes in the air and leaves start to turn I see it as the season that all the movies hoping to vie for an Oscar start hitting theaters. One of the early films in this year's opening award season salvo is Argo. Directed by and starring Ben Affleck, Argo centers around the covert C.I.A. operation to rescue 6 American diplomats in Iran hiding with the Canadian ambassador during the Iran Hostage Crisis in 1980. C.I.A. 'exfiltration' specialist Tony Mendez(Affleck) is sent in to get the 6 out with a plan so crazy it could only be thought up in Hollywood. They will pose as a Canadian film crew in Iran to scout locations for an upcoming sci-fi movie called 'Argo'. But for any of this to work first Mendez must create and entire fake movie campaign to sell the cover identities of the 6 rogue diplomats. If successful they all leave Iran safely if not they are all as good as dead. Too fantastic to be true, well yes it is, but believe it or not this is based on a true story. So is this movie worth your time or should this mission be scrubbed and all the agents disavowed? Well lets find out shall we.
Affleck has come a long way as a director in just three movies. Gone Baby Gone & The Town were both very solid movies but with his latest offering Affleck has kicked up his game a few notches. The pacing was fast and the narrative flow kept this film moving where others might have dragged. Also the suspense that builds through the movie had my heart racing as we followed the characters through their escape attempt. I know that Affleck used some pretty standard movie suspense tropes but he used them brilliantly. The acting was another bright spot with particular outstanding performances from Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, & Alan Arkin(who I will be surprised if not nominated for many awards this season). There are two distinct parts to this film the beginning which has Mendez going to Hollywood to set up the fake movie and Mendez going to Iran to rescue the Americans. While the first plays more to the light-hearted the latter is pure spy thriller and the both blend perfectly in this film. Kudos also go to the set and costume designers for recreating 1980 to a tee and the inclusion of iconic archival images and news footage do truly transport you to a specific place and time.
This is usually where I would tell you the bad spots of the movie but for me there wasn't any. I loved this movie and was completely blown away. I give Argo 5 out of 5 fake movie posters, I recommend that you see it now or you will definitely be kicking yourself for missing this one come award season when this movie is nominated for multiple awards. Argo F*ck Yourself!
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