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HOORAY FOR 1933—EIGHTY YEARS LATERArgo—movie review
Director and star Ben Affleck brings credence to each environment he depicts: the tumultuous world of revolution-torn Iran, the political give-and-take of Washington bureaucracy, and the casually crass atmosphere of Hollywood. Affleck also plays the CIA agent who takes on the task of spiriting the Americans out of Tehran, using a bogus Hollywood movie production as his cover story. John Goodman plays real-life makeup artist John Chambers who, it turns out, was an undercover operative for the CIA; he is perfectly matched by Alan Arkin as a cynical, past-his-prime producer who helps create the subterfuge of a movie being made.
Argo plays beautifully because it never seems phony. The tension in Tehran is palpably real from the moment the film begins, with violence an ever-present threat. The six Americans aren’t noble or one-dimensional: they are all too human, and we share their well-founded fear.
In sharp contrast, the scenes involving Goodman and Arkin are ribald and laugh-out-loud funny. You couldn’t ask for two more expert actors to play these jaded movie veterans.
Circumstances lead to a nail-biting climax in which every minute counts. This is movie storytelling at its best, and if it didn’t play out quite this way in real life, it should have. The finale of Argo is exhilarating and enormously satisfying. It’s followed, under the closing credits, by revealing archival footage and information that you don’t want to miss.
Argo is proof that Hollywood can still make a crowd-pleasing movie that’s smart, funny, and relevant all at once. To which I can only add, Bravo!
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10 Comments
Mary | October 22, 2012 5:29 PM
Excellent movie dramatizes the real terror American diplomatic services and the contribution that absurd Hollywood made to saving lives
Mary | October 22, 2012 5:29 PM
Excellent movie dramatizes the real terror American diplomatic services and the contribution that absurd Hollywood made to saving lives
Mary | October 22, 2012 5:29 PM
Excellent movie dramatizes the real terror American diplomatic services and the contribution that absurd Hollywood made to saving lives
Burt Zerker | October 21, 2012 2:23 PM
They should have titled the movie: "Arggh,..Oh" to mirror the way that Liberal Jimmy Carter handled the whole mess.
ReelG | October 15, 2012 7:24 PM
To go or to forgo Argo?
See what two old-school Hollywood veterans have to say...
Here's the link to The Reel Geezers review of Argo on YouTube
http://youtu.be/Ps4dNM4bFGE
MiMi | October 15, 2012 7:09 PM
I loved this movie. Ben Affleck makes great films. He was also wonderful in the movie. I plan to see it again. It's that good!
Guy | October 15, 2012 3:32 PM
Wait, Leonard Maltin loves another conventional, 120-minute Hollywood docudrama? Zzzz.
Sandy | October 13, 2012 4:31 PM
What a fabulous, exciting film. Bravo to Ben Affleck.
Jason | October 12, 2012 2:57 PM
Yes! Ben Affleck scores again!