Review of Argo (2012) by Adam P — 05 Jan 2014

This is my first review of the year 2014. Not the first film I watched this year but the first film I reviewed this year. To a good year in film! I'll say to you that when I heard about this film it was getting praised nonstop from critics. I truly was doubtful, myself that the film was actually anything to gloat about. Sadly, I hadn't had a chance to view the film until the other day. I was completely wrong with my pre-thoughts on the film. It is and will be a masterpiece among modern film. I've already bought a copy of it as well. I guess you could call me a bias person, as when I read 'Ben Affleck' as the lead as well as the director for the film, I was kinda repelled. It's kinda hard to like the dude who brought us 'Daredevil', and a heaping of other pretty bad movies. But now I've gotta say that I'm sorry Ben, I should of stuck in there for you. I mean if Tom Hanks can make a few bad movies and then come back with a bunch of good ones, well so can you Ben. Anyhow onto my review of 'Argo'.

'Argo' follows C.I.A exfiltration specialist Tony Mendez (Played by Ben Affleck) as he creates a fake film to get six embassy staff members out of the country of Iran, during a large Iranian Protest, which resulted in the takeover of the U.S Embassy in Tehran.

The cast of the film is excellent, featuring a turning point in 'Ben Affleck' career. Among the supporting cast we get a solid performance from 'Alan Arkin' playing a character that always seems to be irritated, but as always that kind of character is the perfect fit for Alan. 'John Goodman' plays a makeup artist who assists Tony Mendez creating the fake film, and gives a performance, in which you know John's having fun. And 'Bryan Cranston' is a good fit in the role of Tony's supporter, and supervisor.

The script by 'Chris Terrio' is very intelligent. In that, I mean it finds ways to sneak in darker jokes while managing to not come off as odd and or un-necessary, they provide a small smile, but nothing that would change the ever increasing tension the film presents. The dialogue the script has, never comes off as corny, or cringe worthy, everything sounds as if it was stuff people would actually say, not just words put down to explain what's going on. That's something I liked about the script as well. It never explained the main idea of the plot; it just gave suggestions and let you fill in the rest as the film progressed.

I have to give attention to 'Ben Affleck' for his outstanding directing in the film, if the Academy Awards don't do it. He found an effective way to not only headline the film but direct it as well, which I feel he did a wonderful job doing so, especially for the opening scenes, which were complete madness.

The character development was pretty solid, considering all the madness going on, you'd think you'd never really get to know your characters as anything more than damsel's in distress. But as the film cut to the six embassy people, it showed all their emotions and panic as they slowly broke down. By the end of the day, when the film ends, you really feel for those stranded people, you want them to make it out of that country. And when you start thinking about Tony Mendez, you most definitely want him to make it back to his family, and his lovable kid.

The film expresses a strong sense of urgency and tension. I was seriously at the end of my seat as I watched the six embassy people walk into that airport at the end. Knowing that in a flash they could be discovered and imprisoned, or even worse hanged. I was yelling for somebody to pick up that phone when the Guard makes a call to the fake studio Tony Mendez created. The whole film will have you at the end of your seat, not knowing whether or not the six embassy people will make it back to America or not. All together it makes the film even more exciting then the film already is.

The plot is great. It's never bland or dull. It's always exciting and original, and keeps you watching, as you never know what's happening until it's happened. The plot, is more sophisticated than most popcorn movies but it will never the less entertain you.

If I'd ever seen anything so unique in film it would have to be during the opening protest scenes in this film. When the film starts cutting through the protesters it blends real footage of the actual event into the film, and I found that to be really neat, even if a bit distracting.

The editing was pretty good, not choppy, and it didn't cut from one thing to another in the blink of an eye, it gave you a good 10 seconds or so, then it would move on. It all was easy on you.

The pacing is actually decent; the film takes a rather slow pace to increase tension in the film. Instead of a high paced film, we get a slow one, which spends a lot more time leading up to the final instead of just jumping to it at any chance possible.

All an All 'Argo' is one of those films you just have to love. A film that works hard, and in the end, achieves its goal. 'Argo' is a great film, and deserved the Best Picture award it got at the academy. It just goes to show you not to underestimate someone's credentials on previous failures. Judge a film on its own merits not on previous films. A+.

P.S: Ben Affleck has two upcoming features. The first 'Gone Girl' and the second 'Batman vs. Superman'. While I somewhat disagree with Ben's casting on the latter film as Batman, as this film has shown, you can't judge until you see the finished project, so I'll just have to wait for that one until July 2015.