Argo is a near perfect film. This is not to say it is the best film you will ever see, but is perfect. If you are my age, you lived through the Iran Hostage Crisis and you know the impact it had on everyone. This sub-story was a tale that wasn't nearly as hyped when it happened as it was today. What makes the film so wonderful is that you know the result. There is nothing that will happen in the movie that should shock you, yet it does. Much like movies like Midnight Express, the tension is so perfectly executed, it doesn't seem fabricated. The levity during the first half, let's us know that these are still real people.
So what makes it "perfect?" The direction. Ben Affleck, for all his quirks and failure, delivers such a seamless picture that the two hour running time feels like a half hour TV drama. There is not one wasted scene. No superfluous moments of fear or panic. It is a very simple movie about a moment in time where nearly everything had to happen a certain way. The casting too, was so perfect, it's as if the true story had a premonition of who to cast. The key is Affleck. He never tries to dominate any scenes and let's masters like Alan Arkin and John Goodman do what they do best. Make us laugh. He takes the lesser known actors, who portray the hostages (in effect they are) work. They make us feel their trepidations with his plan. Their fear seems so real, especially the enchanting Clea Duvall, whose face in one scene is of such relief, you breathe that sigh of relief with her.
In the end, this is a political story, despite the human elements, but there are two hugely interesting points made in the movie, that some will find either telling or they will roll their eyes in disgust. This movie, very tactfully points much of the blame on America's brashness and gives full credit to that brashness for the six people's return. During the closing credits, there is a recording of President Carter, praising Canada and the U.S. for teamwork and basically asking for credit for getting everyone out peacefully. It's telling where this is placed, but also shows, those who cared enough to stay for the credits, might understand a little more than those who didn't.
Two final notes. Affleck's nomination snub is incomprehensible and it's been noted by many in Hollywood that this was a travesty. Even by those who were in films nominated for Best Director. Also, I have yet to see Christopher Waltz in Django Unchained, but I'd be hard pressed to find a more perfect supporting role than the one played by Alan Arkin.
So what makes it "perfect?" The direction. Ben Affleck, for all his quirks and failure, delivers such a seamless picture that the two hour running time feels like a half hour TV drama. There is not one wasted scene. No superfluous moments of fear or panic. It is a very simple movie about a moment in time where nearly everything had to happen a certain way. The casting too, was so perfect, it's as if the true story had a premonition of who to cast. The key is Affleck. He never tries to dominate any scenes and let's masters like Alan Arkin and John Goodman do what they do best. Make us laugh. He takes the lesser known actors, who portray the hostages (in effect they are) work. They make us feel their trepidations with his plan. Their fear seems so real, especially the enchanting Clea Duvall, whose face in one scene is of such relief, you breathe that sigh of relief with her.
In the end, this is a political story, despite the human elements, but there are two hugely interesting points made in the movie, that some will find either telling or they will roll their eyes in disgust. This movie, very tactfully points much of the blame on America's brashness and gives full credit to that brashness for the six people's return. During the closing credits, there is a recording of President Carter, praising Canada and the U.S. for teamwork and basically asking for credit for getting everyone out peacefully. It's telling where this is placed, but also shows, those who cared enough to stay for the credits, might understand a little more than those who didn't.
Two final notes. Affleck's nomination snub is incomprehensible and it's been noted by many in Hollywood that this was a travesty. Even by those who were in films nominated for Best Director. Also, I have yet to see Christopher Waltz in Django Unchained, but I'd be hard pressed to find a more perfect supporting role than the one played by Alan Arkin.
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