Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman,
Director: Ben Affleck
Rating: 5/5
Ben Affleck has already got two movies under his belt as director that showed that he had real promise behind the camera.
With his new movie Argo, which is his first directorial outing since The Town back in 2010, he demonstrates that he is one of the best and most exciting filmmakers working in Hollywood today.
Argo is nothing short of brilliant as Affleck infuses and mixes drama, suspense and comedy into what is practically a flawless movie.
On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage.
But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador.
Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA "exfiltration" specialist named Tony Mendez (Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country.
Argo really is a old school suspense movie of the highest order as this is an movie that is about outwitting the enemy rather than blowing their head off - which makes for much more interesting and tense watch.
To say that Affleck is on top form with this movie is an understatement as he notches up the tension frame by frame as the film picks up pace.
With all the tensions that are currently in the Middle East there is something incredibly real about this movie.
These events could have so easily taken place more recently rather than thirty years ago and that gives the film another element of unease.
Affleck leads a great ensemble cast while delivering a fine performance himself. Alan Arkin and John Goodman are the comedy element of the film and they really do make a good double act.
They demonstrate the ludicrous nature of Hollywood and yet the humour is never over the top or misplaced.
And while the roles of the hostages are not perhaps well known faces the likes of Tate Donovan, Clea Duvall, and Scoot McNairy are great actors and they really deliver strong performances.
Argo is a movie that is fast paced and totally engaging from start to finish as Affleck brilliantly captures the feel and look of the time.
But Chris Terrio must also be applauded for his great script as he keep the tension high and never overplays the humour.
There is already Oscar hype surrounding this movie and it is not hard to see why as this is one of the best spy/political thrillers that has been released in some time.
Not only that but it is one of the best pictures to be released so far in 2012 and cements Affleck as a major directing force.
This is movie that is absolutely not to be missed!!!!
Argo is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
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