Don't let this movie give you the slip. Here are seven reasons you should go see Argo.
7. The Spies!
It doesn’t take a secret agent to know that America is obsessed with spies. James Bond, Jason Bourne, Ethan Hunt... We love the espionage, the mystery, the idea that lives are all balanced on the thin point of a complicated plan and in a moment everything could collapse. Oh, yeah, and we love seeing people take names and get stuff done.
In Argo, Ben Affleck plays Tony Mendez, a CIA agent responsible for rescuing six Americans stranded in Iran during the Iranian hostage crisis. For the young, non-history geeks out there, think the Arab Spring in Egypt but much more violent. It was a period of violent unrest channeled directly at America and Americans in the country at the time. It was a period of revolution. No one was safe. In this setting—in this hell—six government workers are stranded at the home of the Canadian ambassador with no way out.
So, naturally, Mendez does what any CIA agent would do: construct a mad, elaborate plot way too ridiculous to work. Their cover story: they are filming a science fiction movie Argo and are in Iran scouting for locations to shoot. As they say, "This is the best bad idea we have."
As a spy movie, Argo has it all, from pie-in-the-sky plans to disguises and cover stories to lots of sneaking around--and, of course, explosions. Okay maybe they’re just tear gas bombs but hey, it counts!
Ben Affleck seems to either get it all wrong (coughDareDevilcough) or completely right (Good Will Hunting, The Town). In the case of Argo, it's the latter. Affleck not only appeared in Argo as main character Tony Mendez, he also produced and directed it. If that’s not enough, the film also stars John Goodman and Alan Arkin, both of whom contribute the much-needed but not overdone comic relief in this tense thriller.
If you stay for the credits (which you definitely should), you’ll see side-by-side shots of the movie and actual historical events. They incorporated shots throughout the film that match real photographs taken during the time. It may seem trivial, but touches like that go far to establish a mood and contribute to the authenticity of a movie.
Argo covers a complex story in only 120 minutes, so it has to move quickly. No doubt it was difficult to succinctly convey the full scope of the situation and all the details involved in Mendez’s elaborate plot, but Argo manages it well.
Some nice touches: the storyboard-esque pictures in the opening sequence that briefly explain the context of the hostage crisis; the accuracy of the storming of the embassy; and the make-up that made the actors look just like their real-life characters.
The best movies are a proportionate recipe of action, tension, character and, of course, humor. Give me a movie that runs the gamut of the emotional spectrum: from tears to happiness, I want the full experience. An action-packed thriller? Great. A nice sprinkling of humor? Even better.
6. The Cast
Ben Affleck seems to either get it all wrong (coughDareDevilcough) or completely right (Good Will Hunting, The Town). In the case of Argo, it's the latter. Affleck not only appeared in Argo as main character Tony Mendez, he also produced and directed it. If that’s not enough, the film also stars John Goodman and Alan Arkin, both of whom contribute the much-needed but not overdone comic relief in this tense thriller.
5. The Details
If you stay for the credits (which you definitely should), you’ll see side-by-side shots of the movie and actual historical events. They incorporated shots throughout the film that match real photographs taken during the time. It may seem trivial, but touches like that go far to establish a mood and contribute to the authenticity of a movie.
Argo covers a complex story in only 120 minutes, so it has to move quickly. No doubt it was difficult to succinctly convey the full scope of the situation and all the details involved in Mendez’s elaborate plot, but Argo manages it well.
Some nice touches: the storyboard-esque pictures in the opening sequence that briefly explain the context of the hostage crisis; the accuracy of the storming of the embassy; and the make-up that made the actors look just like their real-life characters.
4. It's Funny
The best movies are a proportionate recipe of action, tension, character and, of course, humor. Give me a movie that runs the gamut of the emotional spectrum: from tears to happiness, I want the full experience. An action-packed thriller? Great. A nice sprinkling of humor? Even better.
Humor can go a long way in relieving tension, and a movie like Argo (or any spy movie) benefits from some good comic relief. Of course, the jokes must still fit the mood. A movie like Argo should not have you rolling on the floor with laughter. That would be inappropriate. Fortunately the jokes are apropos (if maybe occasionally a liiiiiittle bit too obvious in their pokes at Hollywood).
Maybe It makes me a nerd, but I always enjoy a good historical piece. And what better way to learn than through an entertaining film? Learn about one our nation's most humbling moments that helped define America's relationship with Iran for decades to come.
It's easy to forget about the plights of the rest of the world, but as I said somewhere above, the Iranian Hostage Crisis was sort of like the Arab Spring in Egypt... only (I cannot emphasize this enough) a lot worse. Our world is in turmoil. Revolutions still happen. And it's important to see, up close, how the passions of the people can change the world.
3. It's History
2. It's Relevant
It's easy to forget about the plights of the rest of the world, but as I said somewhere above, the Iranian Hostage Crisis was sort of like the Arab Spring in Egypt... only (I cannot emphasize this enough) a lot worse. Our world is in turmoil. Revolutions still happen. And it's important to see, up close, how the passions of the people can change the world.
1. It’s true!
In case you haven't guessed by now, Argo is in fact based on a true story. That's right. The CIA really did concoct a wild plan to create a fake movie to rescue six Americans who managed to escape the embassy before the revolutionaries took control. How could you not want to know that story?
The best thing about Argo is this--the Iran hostage crisis was a moment of tragedy in American history. For over 400 days, fifty-two Americans were held hostage in the embassy basement. A rescue attempt went horribly wrong and resulted in the deaths of eight servicemen. Americans, anyone who might possibly be American and anyone who helped Americans were questioned, detained and sometimes even killed. But the Argo mission was one shining moment in CIA history. And it wasn't even declassified until 1997.
For almost twenty-years, the American public--the entire world--believed that the Canadians alone were behind the rescue. For a moment so tainted by tragedy, there was this other moment of true heroism that no one ever knew. This is that story; this is part of our history and a reminder that even when we mess everything up, some thing can still go right.
For almost twenty-years, the American public--the entire world--believed that the Canadians alone were behind the rescue. For a moment so tainted by tragedy, there was this other moment of true heroism that no one ever knew. This is that story; this is part of our history and a reminder that even when we mess everything up, some thing can still go right.
