Customer Reviews

Argo (Blu-ray + UV Copy)[Region Free]

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4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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 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

This is a taut and gripping thriller. Well made and acted about extricating diplomats from Iran under the guise of a departing film crew.

The tension builds up nicely with some good humourous moments, mainly from John Goodman. I have to say I suspect that the numerous cliff hangers were theatrical licence but heck it makes for superb viewing!

Like a lot of movies, the facts are often victims of the drama. In the film the CIA states that the hostages were rejected by the Brits and the Kiwis. That is not true. The Brits did take them in and it was only when the British embassy itself faced being stormed that they were moved to the Canadians. Why so many movies select to distort facts unnecessarily is a mystery? Maybe it is US politics? But it debases the film.

Likewise, we had some Canadian guests who had refused to see the film on the basis that most of the work was done by the Canadians, for which the credit was hi jacked by the CIA in the movie. So, what's new? But it remains a gripping movie.

During the heat of the Iranian revolution, in 1979, a group of militants and student revolutionaries attacked the United States embassy in Tehran, Iran. This revolution was noted for the return of the exiled cleric Ayatollah Khomeni, and the overthrow of Mohammad Palhavi, the Shah of Iran. The Shah got asylum in America, and the militant takeover of the embassy was not only a retaliation for giving asylum to the Shah but a strategy to force America to return the Shah to Iran to be sentenced and executed. 52 Americans held hostage in an effort to bargain with the American government while President Carter refused to yield to the militants' demand, referring the hostages as victims of terrorism.

Among the chaos, six embassy officials escaped to the residence of the Canadian Ambassador, who sheltered them in his cellar. While the tension between the United States and the revolutionary government of Iran under Ayathollah Khomeni seems to worsen every passing day, the US State Department begins to explore all possible options to rescue the hostages, and of all the bad plans they could find, the "best bad plan" comes from a CIA "exfiltration specialist" Antonio Mendez. His plan was to create a cover story for a fake sci-fi film called "Argo" and rescue the embassy staff as Canadian film makers with alternate identities and Canadian passports. Mendez and his supervisor enlist John Chambers, a makeup artist who worked with the CIA before, and through him producer Lester Siegel, together they publicize the fake movie under the fake studio (Studio Six).

Tony Mendez enters Iran posing as a producer for Argo, as part of scouting the country's exotic locations, and meet with the embassy staff hiding in the Canadian Ambassador's residence. He introduced them to their new identities and issues their alternate Canadian passports yet they were reluctant to go through the seemingly impossible plan - as there are no alternative choice and Mendez himself is risking his life for them, they agreed to play along. While the initial scouting in the hostile streets was rather disastrous, and worsen their fears, they slowly regain courage and started to believe in the plan.

As the plan was on its final stage and ready to go, Mendez was told to stand down, as a military operation to rescue hostages with the Delta Force is on the move, also if the Mendez's plan goes wrong it will become a national embarrassment. While the stranded embassy staff got their faith back, Mendez had to decide whether to follow the orders or boldly go with the plan.

Argo is a great film, absolutely brilliant, totally Oscar material. Ben Affleck directed this movie like a veteran recreating the history and the timeline of the Iranian hostage crisis. Every actor in the movie is equally brilliant, living their roles. Ben Affleck as Mendez, John Goodman as John Chambers, and Alan Arkin as Lester Siegel (All actors were perfect but these three were exceptionally perfect for their roles). Another brilliant performance to mention was Bryan Cranston as Jack O'Donnell, Mendez's supervisor at the CIA.

There were historical inaccuracies, and drama, but as a film based on an inspiring event, the story is declassified by the CIA and popular in history, the dramatic elements did save a bit of "spoiler" moments, for that we should appreciate the script, and thankful to Ben Affleck, the director and the co - producer George Clooney. The film Argo is based on Joshuah Bearman's article "How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran" published in Wired (2007), the Iranian Hostage Crisis, the Canadian Caper Incident and Tony Mendez's own account.

This movie, running two hours, is a knuckle whitening thriller, and a great human drama, which means you shouldn't miss this one. If you are interested in the historical accounts which the movie is based on try Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History, and The Houseguests: A Memoir of Canadian Courage and CIA Sorcery.

I will update the DVD features, when it's released. Love to hear your opinions and comments as well.

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!

Argo is based on the true story of six American Embassy employees who escaped when the Embassy in Tehran was attacked in 1979 by protestors against the US giving the Shah sanctuary following his fall from power. They find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador and the US authorities have to find a way to get them out of Iran before the local authorities realise they are there.

However from comments made since the movie came out it is clear that the movie is inaccurate in a number of major points but that's Hollywood I suppose!

Affleck plays Tony Mendez, a CIA agent specialising in these operations. He has contacts in Hollywood and comes up with the idea of setting up a fake movie to arrange a trip to Tehran to scout locations and bringing the escapees home on the way back as part of the crew.

The movie is good in showing us the tension felt by the escapees in Tehran and by Mendez in the US as he tries to make his scheme workable.

The tension builds as Mendez goes to Tehran and tells the plan to the trapped Americans. Some of them are understandably sceptical. However they have little choice but to go along with it and the final Tehran airport sequence is well done, though perhaps more than a little far fetched.

In fairness to the makers at the start of the movie some time is given to explain the historical background to the unpopularity of the US in post revolution Iran.

Definitely a political thriller I'd recommend, though don't expect complete factual accuracy.

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. Bound to reap award glory, it may not be 'worthy' fare, but it is an undeniable crowd pleaser. A killer cast and a gloriously surreal script, he expertly concocts a pulping thriller that shows that fact is indeed often stranger than fiction. It is a step up from the Town (2010) and a step up from Gone Baby Gone (2007). Welcome, Mr Affleck to the directorial big leagues.

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 Ayatullah Khomeini and taken refuge in the Canadian embassy, without the knowledge of the Iranian authorities (the historical and political background is shown in an attractive animated segment at the beginning of the film - and is the only part in the movie where the Americans set themselves for criticism for their previous support of the deposed Shah). For that endeavor, the CIA sent an exfiltration expert, Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck, who is very good and who also directed). After conventional escape plans were explored and looked like they wouldn't work out, Mendez thought up a bizarre plan: go to Iran and leave with the six diplomats pretending that they belong to a Canadian film crew planning to film a B type Sci Fi film named Argo in Iran. To give credibility to the story, Mendez had two film producers (played by John Goodman and Alan Arkin) set up an office in Hollywood as if the planned movie was for real. Surprisingly, the ploy worked (since this story is public knowledge, I don't think saying this is much of a spoiler).

Great recreation of an era and a place (Istanbul and Los Angeles are a believable stand-in for Tehran, along with some digital graphics playing the mountains in the background). Interesting and gripping throughout, even if some details were obviously added for dramatic effect (almost certainly the Iranians didn't chase the leaving plane in the runway). About the only flaw of movie: the constant, irritating, self absorbed in-jokes of the two movie producers.

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. It was edge-of-the-seat tense and people actually cheered the end scene. I wont spoil it by telling you what it was but suffice it to say, that the sense of relief was wonderful. Ben Affleck turned out to be a good actor but more than that, his direction was taut and involving. My opinion of him has changed from pretty boy to an excellent successor to Clint Eastwood in making a good film. As many people were heard to say when leaving the cinema "Why can't they make films as good as that these days? That was a very powerful film!"

I want it on dvd so that I can watch it again in the comfort of my own home without the sound of whispering, sweet papers rustling, pop corn crunching or the inevitable mobile phone trilling and beeping.

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 confounded a crazed Eastern dictator using the only weapon powerful enough to ensure justice prevails against even the darkest of evils: Hollywood.

"ACT, GARY!"

This is a solidly constructed and handsomely directed picture, and its attention to detail, even to the extent of a period-correct crackly Warner brothers title card, is consistently wondrous. The seventies `taches and comb-overs are spot on. The cinematography is impressive: the grainy, orangey colours look like real original seventies newsreel footage, and you only realise they can't be when a 747 flies overhead tracked on a static camera which must be a couple of thousand feet in midair. That is very, very sympathetically rendered CGI indeed.

Ben Affleck has his hands full, co-producing and directing as well as taking the lead role: he is Tony Mendez, a CIA field agent who specialises in "exfiltration" of vulnerable American nationals from iffy foreign situations. They don't get iffier than the Iran hostage crisis of 1979. In a frenetic dramatisation of the initial storming we see embassy staff dumbfounded that their walls could possibly be breached ("but we're technically on American soil!") and stunned that the Iranian police wouldn't come to sort the situation out for them.

Ultimately 52 of the American Embassy staff were caught and held hostage for 444 days. What is less well-known is that six others had the bright idea of scarpering out the back door as the students stormed the front, escaping to the questionable sanctuary of a foreign city of 4 million people whom would like nothing better than "to pour American blood on their cornflakes".

Having been turned away by the Brits, the Swedes and the Kiwis they wind up as reluctant house guests of the only westerners who'll take them in: the Canadian ambassador and his wife.

Meanwhile, back in Quantico, CIA subsection chief Jack O'Donnell (Bryan Cranston) is put in charge of working out what to do now. His best guy is Mendez. Mendez' idea, even though the best by a long shot, is a total stinker: have the six pretend to be a Canadian film crew scouting for locations for a sci fi movie, in revolutionary Iran. It beat "cycling 300 mountainous miles to the Turkish border in the middle of winter", which was the other option.

Early stages are worked as a skilful drama: There is a clever juxtaposition of the Iranian students' trumped up show trial of the American hostages on spying against a public script reading in Hollywood for the titular sci fi film. The preparation for the phoney film is a comedy masterclass from John Goodman and Alan Arkin as a pair of Hollywood old hands brought in to make a credible backstory.

Affleck is the epitome of the no nonsense, unflappable field agent. He also rocks superb facial hair that he really should keep.

Despite the machinations of the State Department, the film caper never quite gets nixed, and Mendez goes in to Tehran. Now the film enters overdrive: the Iranians have twigged that six diplomats are missing and are running down every angle. We fret that the Canadians' domestic help may have twigged too, and spilled beans. It becomes a race against the clock, with a couple of great set pieces, one of which is in Tehran's grand bazaar (deputised for by Istanbul's bazaar, which with Taken 2 and Skyfall has hosted its fair share of blockbusters recently).

Affleck's depiction of the Iranian revolutionaries is sympathetic (that is, more "Arrec Barwin" than Spottiswood), it being made clear at the outset that the real villain was the Shah, his presence on American soil being what precipitated the situation in the first place.

There are the odd unnecessary tropes: a daybreak shot of the grand mosque as the Muezzin calls the faithful to prayer makes an uncalled-for appearance, and Affleck can't resist the temptation to over-cheese the ending, but these small faults aside, with a fine ensemble cast ably supported by Goodman and Arkin's comic relief, and assured directing and cinematography, this is well worth its two hours' running time.

Olly Buxton