"Ar-GO F**K YOURSELF"
After a very long time, I was on the edge of my seat in the climax of a film. The last time was in perhaps, "Dog Day Afternoon", Sidney Lumet's unmatched masterpiece. This time, was for Ben Affleck's Argo, a movie about a fake movie, based on Iran Hostage Crisis of early 1980s. And what exactly does Argo means? Yes, you read the post's title.
So we are in a time when diplomatic relations of United States and Iran were very bad (they are no good still today, whatever). Over 60 people in US embassy in Tehran were kept hostage as an reaction to political asylum given to infamous Shah of Iran. This hostage situation went over one year. Some few lucky embassy staff went into hiding in Canadian Embassy. Now people at CIA and White House all plan and plot to evade these poor souls. Our hero, Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) comes into picture suggesting an idea of making a fake movie and eventually performing a charade at the International Airport.
Ben Affleck is heart and soul of the film. He directed it with pitch perfection - the tension he creates during the last 30 minutes or so proves that he is no less than Clint Eastwood when it comes to actor directing a film. Alan Arkin's turn as a Hollywood producer is a treat as well. Credit should also be given to casting director who casted various Middle Eastern actors. Editing by William Goldenberg and music by Alexandre Desplat is worth a mention too.
Argo is a rare kind of a film which hardly as any apparent flaws. With a tight script, whose accuracy might cause a debate, director Affleck has made a film which not only entertains you but also provides a fine outlook at the history. It might not be as intellectual as "Lincoln", but surely hundreds times more entertaining and engaging. Argo is certainly worth many watches over and over again.
4/5
