By: Shannon Tesser | KFAN.com
Ben Affleck stars in and directs Argo, the thrilling drama based on real life events during the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979. The film chronicles a life or death covert operation that is so unbelievable, the audience will wonder if it really is based on a real life declassified case.
In November of 1979, militants stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. However, six Americans managed to escape and flee to the home of the Canadian ambassador. The CIA brings in an extractor, Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck), who comes up with a risky plan to get the six Americans out of the country. Tony is going to pose as a Canadian producer making a science fiction film in the exotic location of Iran, with the six escapees pretending to be his film crew. With the assistance of Hollywood’s award winning makeup artist, John Chambers (John Goodman), and wise cracking producer, Lester Siegal (Alan Arkin), Tony manages to put all the parts in to play. They buy a low budget script, get the press to publicize their movie and come up with cover stories for each of the Americans they set out to assist in their escape from Iran.
The first half of Argo is setting up the big extraction, but watching the plan be put in to motion ends up being as thrilling and entertaining as the act itself. Affleck, Goodman, and Arkin give golden performances as the team putting the plan together. And Bryan Cranston is thrilling as Affleck’s friend in Washington fighting for the operation. Under Affleck’s superior direction, Argo is suspenseful, touching, and thrilling. Even if you already know how the movie ends, he will keep you guessing if they will escape with their lives or end up caught and murdered for being American spies.
Argo is worth seeing as soon as possible!
Rated R
In theatres October 12th
