Argo review

 Number 445 on the top 1000 films of all time is the historical, dramatic-thriller, Argo, produced, directed and starring Ben Affleck.

Based on the true story of the Canadian Caper, Argo follows CIA agent Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) as he launched a daring scheme to rescue six escapees of the 1979-1981 Iran hostage crisis. He is aided by his boss Jack O'Donnell (Bryan Cranston,) Oscar-winning make-up artist John Chambers (John Goodman) and movie bigwig Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin.)

Right from the start, we knew this was going to be an intense film. Argo opens with supposed archival footage of the real storming of the US embassy in Iran. The footage wasn't real, but it didn't make it any less scary. The fear was palpable as the employees desperately shred paperwork and wait for the police who we know aren't coming. When the Iranians eventually storm the embassy, I was wondering whether they would just shoot everybody. Obviously, I know that this didn't happen in real life, but that fear was always at the back of my mind. In the chaos, six of the diplomats escape.

Enter Tony Mendez who suggests extracting the diplomats under the guise of filming a science-fiction movie called Argo and having the escapees pose as crew members. To help him, he enlists Chambers and Siegel. Goodman and Arkin played well off each other and provided a lot of much-needed comic relief. While Argo was intense, Goodman and Siegel stopped it from becoming too dark.

Everything culminates in an extremely dramatic if over-exaggerated ending. At the airport, Mendez and the others are pulled aside and interrogated by security. The Iranians call to verify their story and Chambers does so, right at the last minute. They allow the Mendez and co to board the plan, but then realise their mistake and they send the army chasing after them. Just when it looks like they could be caught, they escape just in time. Interestingly, none of this happened in real life. The employees boarded the plane at 5.30am without much incident. But I guess this wouldn't make as much of a thrilling ending.

I may argue that Affleck was better at direction than acting. Mendez wasn't a character with a lot of depth. He's your run-of-the-mill dark, brooding hero with a drinking habit, a divorced wife and a kid he sees once a year. beyond that, there isn't a lot more to him and Affleck added little else to the part.

Yes, the ending with the medal ceremony and deafening ending was pretty cheesy, but this was an enjoyable view. Just wear your seatbelts as it's a hell of a ride.