Movie Review: Argo

Argo

Directed by Ben Affleck

Starring Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman

Rating: A

I was not sure how hard I would have to work to keep my attention on a movie based on a true story. However, I like politics and history so I thought I would give it a go. The movie has great pacing, with the suspense growing through out. During the climax of the movie I found myself gasping and holding my breath waiting to see if things would work out. The movie is filled with strong and vivid scenes of the revolution in Iran and it was easy to become fearful for the characters and the situation.

Ben Affleck produced, directed and acted in the movie, and he did the story justice. The film came across as historically authentic with the crew paying great amounts of attention to detail in the film interpretation of photographic scenes from the revolution. In addition, the actors  bear a remarkable resemblance to their real-life counterparts. The only negative critique I heard about this movie ahead of viewing it is that Affleck did everything well in the movie aside from casting himself. At first, I took that critique to mean that his acting might have been subpar. However, his acting was believable and I have no complaints there. Affleck was perhaps not the best match, aesthetic wise, for the man he was attempting to portray and I believe that is what the slightly negative critique meant. Affleck was able to cast a number of great actors in this movie. Actually, the number was surprising, from John Goodman, to Alan Arkin, to Victor Garber. He tends to do better with films that he directs rather than films he just acts in.

As I stated, I like politics and history, and I feel like this movie was very well done. My affinity for those two subjects may be one reason I am so excited about this film and perhaps why I might have enjoyed it more than other theater goers. I don't think any serious movie snob or critic would argue on the merits of this movie.