ARGO is a standard issued thriller based on a real-life, once-classified CIA operation. It tells the tale of the daring rescue of six employees of the American Embassy of Iran, who had escaped to the streets before the embassy was overtaken by rioters on November 4, 1979. This spy game was done by Tony Mendez, a CIA operative who crafted a cover story of being a Hollywood producer for a fake STAR WARS rip-off called "Argo". He comes to Iran, meets up with his "crew", hiding away in the Canadian Embassy, and tries to get them out safely. Along the way, he encounters the generic guidebook of thriller film tropes: the dangerous walk through a public area, the angry bystander, the many distrusting guards, and the golden oldies, the pulling of the plug and the hero's silent drinking at night.
Despite these purposely conceived instances for the sake of film entertainment and familiarity, ARGO is one hell of a pulse-pounding ride. All of the scenes set in Iran, starting with the chaotic opening showcasing the fall of the American Embassy, are pure forms of absolute tension. However, the last act of the film is spellbindingly astounding and frightening, most especially since it pulls off the rare feat of suspending the knowledge side of your brain. You could be a spy history aficionado, know the real step by step process of the event, and be a hardcore cynic about all of the discrepancies, yet you will still find yourself squeezing your arms hard or eyeing those delicious nails as you await the final outcome.
What makes the film stand firmly out and become the most exciting film certainly of all year is not Ben Affleck, the actor but Ben Affleck, the director. Though he does an admirable job as the crafty yet blank-slated Mendez, Affleck paints a mighty canvas riddled with 1970's verisimilitude and flavor. You can practically smell the McDonald's hamburgers and breath the ire-filled air of the Iranian streets. Affleck and his crew's love of making this "based on a real story" film is so powerful, that they didn't want to wait until the home video release to show their workmanship; the fantastic ending credits show side-by-side comparisons of the actors and their real-life counterparts and the famous photos of the Iranian turmoil that they wanted to replicate. He delivers very good performances from his entire ensemble, with the best being Bryan Cranston as Mendez's CIA supervisor, Victor Garber as the brave Canadian ambassador who sticks his neck for his fellow neighboring nation and the duo of Alan Arkin and John Goodman as Hollywood professionals and Mendez's cover crew.
ARGO is a captivating action-drama, with a little comedy thrown in as well. It may be a little too stereotypical at times but it makes the cliches work. There's also the nice little touches that make it more enjoyable, such as adding some moral ambiguity and grayness to the timeline, showing that both America and Iran had their fair share to blame for the conflict and the hostage crisis. Ben Affleck should be very proud for his newest accomplishment in film and he richly deserves a Oscar nomination for his fine direction.
FINAL REVIEW: 4 / 5
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