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Product Description
Based on real events, the dramatic thriller Argo chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis, focusing on the little-known role that the CIA and Hollywood played--information that was not declassified until many years after the event. On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, the Canadian and American governments ask the CIA to intervene. The CIA turns to their top "exfiltration" specialist, Tony Mendez, to come up with a plan to get the six Americans safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.
Extra Content• Feature Length Picture in Picture: Eye Witness Account (theatrical version) -- Relive the takeover of the US Embassy in November of 1979 and the daring rescue mission in January of 1980 through the eyes of those that lived it.
• Commentary
• Rescued from Tehran: We Were There -- President Jimmy Carter, Tony Mendez and the actual house guests recount the real-life harrowing experience they endured.
• Argo: Absolute Authenticity -- From characters to heart-stopping action, Ben Affleck's eye and ear for hard-hitting realism and attention to exacting detail has become his signature as an A-list filmmaker.
• ARGO: The CIA & Hollywood Connection -- Director Ben Affleck and former CIA agent Tony Mendez give a firsthand view of the actual documents and cover story used to create the phony movie Argo that had all of Hollywood believing in.
• Escape from Iran: The Hollywood Option -- Escape From Iran commemorates the 25th anniversary of the "Canadian Caper," taking us back to this startling affair through the direct testimony of the Americans who found sanctuary at the Canadian embassy in Tehran, and the Canadians who risked their own safety to shelter their closest neighbours.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By L. Davidson
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
Without doubt , "Argo" is the best film that I have seen this year. It ticked all the boxes for me - a tense,intelligent thriller,great acting and plenty of high drama. The backdrop to the film is the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the capturing of US citizens by Islamic revolutionaries to be held as hostage until the USA extradited the former Shah back to Iran. After an angry mob stormed the US embassy and took the hostages, six US embassy staff escaped and fled to the home of the Canadian Ambassador who agreed to shelter them. Meanwhile back in the USA a CIA agent ,played superbly by Ben Affleck, comes up with the idea of going to Tehran and under the guise of scouting the city for a location for a new science fiction film called Argo, rescue the six fugitives by pretending that they were part of a Canadian film crew and flying them out of Iran. It is a high risk plan and there is great suspense and tension as it plays out. This film is based on a declassified true story which makes the film all the more incredible. "Argo" is a perfect thriller - its combination of history,politics and espionage is a winning one and the movie is paced and filmed superbly. This is a really good film that I would consider to be Oscar winning material.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have always thought Ben Affleck underrated as an actor, developing a negative reputation due to some unfortunate movie choices. However he really seems to have found his niche as a director.
Argo, his third movie after the superb Gone Baby Gone, and the very fine The Town, is a brilliantly tense thriller based, with some significant dramatic license, on the rescue operation conducted by Canada and the US to bring home 6 American diplomats who had evaded the storming of the US embassy by Iranian revolutionaries and obtained refuge with the Canadian Ambassador.
The focus of the movie is on the CIA operation rather than the Canadian role in the escape. But the movie is careful to show the startling courage of the Canadian ambassador, his wife and housekeeper who all risked death by harbouring the Americans. The movie is also careful to point out the US's culpability in what happened to its own people, and to Iran as a whole, through its protracted support to the dictatorship of the Shah including its wholesale and systematic use of torture against opponents.
The atmosphere is lightened occasionally by some superb moments of humour, particularly from the brilliant John Goodman and the legendary Alan Arkin as Hollywood types who help the escape by setting up a production company for a fake movie, Argo of the title, which provides the Americans cover as a Canadian crew scouting for locations.
Overall another excellent movie from Affleck who could quite easily turn out to be his generation's Clint Eastwood.
Argo, his third movie after the superb Gone Baby Gone, and the very fine The Town, is a brilliantly tense thriller based, with some significant dramatic license, on the rescue operation conducted by Canada and the US to bring home 6 American diplomats who had evaded the storming of the US embassy by Iranian revolutionaries and obtained refuge with the Canadian Ambassador.
The focus of the movie is on the CIA operation rather than the Canadian role in the escape. But the movie is careful to show the startling courage of the Canadian ambassador, his wife and housekeeper who all risked death by harbouring the Americans. The movie is also careful to point out the US's culpability in what happened to its own people, and to Iran as a whole, through its protracted support to the dictatorship of the Shah including its wholesale and systematic use of torture against opponents.
The atmosphere is lightened occasionally by some superb moments of humour, particularly from the brilliant John Goodman and the legendary Alan Arkin as Hollywood types who help the escape by setting up a production company for a fake movie, Argo of the title, which provides the Americans cover as a Canadian crew scouting for locations.
Overall another excellent movie from Affleck who could quite easily turn out to be his generation's Clint Eastwood.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Rowena Hoseason
TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
Argo is adventurous and accomplished film-making of the highest quality. Dramas which use real events as their inspiration tend to fall into one of two camps: overblown, unbelievable Hollywood hyperbole, or dry-and-dusty, worthy-but-dull boring biopics. Argo is none of the above. It's one of the most intelligent and compelling films of 2012 featuring some sterling performances and moments of razor-sharp tension.
Argo pulls few punches: the introduction makes it plain how the situation in revolutionary Iran reached a crescendo in the late 1970s. It then recreates many of the churning, terrifying scenes when the American embassy was over-run and the staff held hostage. The action seamlessly integrates what we remember happening on TV with what was probably going on behind the scenes - with the heart of the plot revolving around the audacious scheme to exfiltrate half a dozen staff members who eluded capture initially and took refuge in the Canadian ambassador's house. The relentless tension is punctured by occasional moments of morbidly black humour ('don't worry' said one CIA operative to the hero. 'At least they'll be confused while they're torturing you'.)
At its heart, Argo reveals real-life courage which almost defies comprehension. The CIA man who chose to go into Iran to lead the half-dozen to safety: the Canadian ambassador and his wife: their house-keeper - all risked torture and death for the sake of strangers. A stunning morality tale.
On top of that, Argo boasts some beautiful performance - Ben Affleck is superb, but John Goodman and Alan Arkin were wonderful too, and it was delightful to see Victor Garber getting his moment in the limelight.
So. Not a thriller in the Bourne or Bond tradition, although there's a dramatic finale which feels a little more fictional than factual and some liberties have been taken with actual events.
A serious film about the nature of bravery: over two hours of gripping viewing.
9/10
Argo pulls few punches: the introduction makes it plain how the situation in revolutionary Iran reached a crescendo in the late 1970s. It then recreates many of the churning, terrifying scenes when the American embassy was over-run and the staff held hostage. The action seamlessly integrates what we remember happening on TV with what was probably going on behind the scenes - with the heart of the plot revolving around the audacious scheme to exfiltrate half a dozen staff members who eluded capture initially and took refuge in the Canadian ambassador's house. The relentless tension is punctured by occasional moments of morbidly black humour ('don't worry' said one CIA operative to the hero. 'At least they'll be confused while they're torturing you'.)
At its heart, Argo reveals real-life courage which almost defies comprehension. The CIA man who chose to go into Iran to lead the half-dozen to safety: the Canadian ambassador and his wife: their house-keeper - all risked torture and death for the sake of strangers. A stunning morality tale.
On top of that, Argo boasts some beautiful performance - Ben Affleck is superb, but John Goodman and Alan Arkin were wonderful too, and it was delightful to see Victor Garber getting his moment in the limelight.
So. Not a thriller in the Bourne or Bond tradition, although there's a dramatic finale which feels a little more fictional than factual and some liberties have been taken with actual events.
A serious film about the nature of bravery: over two hours of gripping viewing.
9/10
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent political thriller
Ben Affleck is developing a decent track record for himself as a director. Gone Baby Gone, The Town and now Argo are all very entertaining. More than just pretty face then! Read more
Published 1 day ago by haunted
5.0 out of 5 stars
Totally satisfying and oozing old-school Hollywood charm
Ben Affleck's thriller is sourced from a recently declassified US story. Creating tension and vibrancy, he manages to produce the most satisfying adrenaline rush of the year. Read more
Published 2 days ago by G. Wetherall
5.0 out of 5 stars
Suspenseful spy caper from Affleck, based on true story
Very entertaining, suspenseful movie about how in 1979 the CIA exfiltrated six American diplomats who have escaped the takeover of the American embassy by supporters of the... Read more
Published 18 days ago by Andres C. Salama
5.0 out of 5 stars
Argo
The palms of my hands were sore from digging my nails into each hand. This is, without any doubt, the best acted and directed true story film of 2012. Read more
Published 29 days ago by deelicious
4.0 out of 5 stars
Team America, World Police!
If you ever wondered where in God's name Trey Parker and Matt Stone got the idea for Team America: World Police, look no further than Argo, the mostly true story of how the CIA... Read more
Published 1 month ago by O. Buxton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant Political Thriller
Argo, directed and starring Ben Affleck who is turning out to be a better Director than actor.
Also starring a whole host of other iconic brilliant actors, being Bryan... Read more
Also starring a whole host of other iconic brilliant actors, being Bryan... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sweetlilac
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oscar contender
I have just come back from watching this at the cinema, The first thing I'm doing is making sure I get notified when this is on blu-ray. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Servo
4.0 out of 5 stars
Intense, intelligent, and even darkly funny
Ben Affleck continues to prove himself one of Hollywood'd best, most intelligent 'mainstream' film-makers. Read more
Published 1 month ago by K. Gordon
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pity about the lie
This is a taut and gripping thriller. Well made and acted about extricating diplomats from Iran under the guise of a departing film crew. Read more
Published 1 month ago by R. C. Harris
4.0 out of 5 stars
AR--GO GET THEM OUT!!!!
Hats off to Ben Affleck for directing and starring in one of the most nail biting, suspenseful, heartwarming movies of the year. In 1979 52 U.S. Read more
Published 1 month ago by LADY HA! HA!
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