It’s amazing how by watching the first 5 minutes of some movies you can instantly say that it’s either going to win or at the very least be nominated for an Oscar. Argo is definitely one of those movies where everything from the direction, the story and the acting just come together so flawlessly, that if it isn’t considered for an Academy Award, it would just be a crime. So here it is; my prediction for a movie that will definitely be a contender for next year’s Best Motion Picture Award.

 

Argo is set in 1979 at the height of the Iranian Cope de ta that brought the current spiritual leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini into power. After the US embassy in Iran is attacked and taken hostage, 6 individuals manage to escape the ensuing violence and hide in the home of the Canadian Ambassador.

Enter Ben Affleck who plays Tony Mendez; a CIA operative who specializes in extracting and rescuing individuals trapped in compromising situations. It becomes his job to figure out how to rescue these 6 individuals from Iran at a time where the terrible Iranian Revolutionary Guard is hunting down Americans and slaughtering them in cold blood.

 

After weighing the pro’s and cons of all the options on the table, he comes up with the plan to build a cover story to enter Iran as a filmmaker and exit Iran with the 6 individuals as his film crew. The excuse to enter the turbulent Iran is to scout locations for a fake Sci-fi movie named Argo which is pretty much a spin-off of movies like Star Wars and Planet of the Apes requiring exotic desert locations.

 

He movie is basically about how Ben Affleck’s character builds up the credibility of this cover story by hiring help from Hollywood and finally enters Iran himself and rescues the escapees with this unorthodox but quite brilliant plan.

 

 

 

Does the plot sound a little unrealistic and out there? Well believe it or not Argo is a true story based on actual events that happened in 1979. The details of this mission were classified to the public until recently and as you watch the movie it’s amazing to think that all of it actually happened.

 

The pace of the movie is excellent with tense moments that build up every now and then that make you want to grab onto someone and hope for the best.  The recreation of the 1979 setting is absolutely flawless with excellent make up and brilliant soundtrack that complements the time in history the story is set in.

 

What I really liked about Argo is how it shows no excuses in exposing both sides of the story when it comes to the political background and setting of the movie. Painting a very accurate picture of the atrocities committed by the US as well as the Iranians, the movie focuses on the value of life despite the complex political motivations of the parties involved.

It strips away the blame game and focuses on Affleck’s mission to save and protect 6 lives.

 

 

 

Argo also does a great job at giving us a glimpse into the inner workings of the secret service and how individuals working for the intelligence services juggle their families and relationships with the secrets and sacrifices they have to make that come with the type of work they are expected to do. This movie is clearly a tribute to unsung heroes like Tony Mendez who sacrifice everything with no expectation for any form of recognition, reward or credit.

 

This marks Ben Affleck’s 3rd directorial outing and it seems like he gets better with every movie. With a great cast to back him up both behind the camera and in front of it, Affleck has definitely proven both his directorial and acting prowess with Argo. With a great cast, flawless movie making and an extra ordinary story to tell; Argo is a definite contender for next year’s Academy Award for best picture.

 

A definite must watch. 9 out of 10! 

 

 

 

 

Reviewed by Maleen Jayasuriya 

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w918Eh3fij0