Synopsis
“Argo” is a historical drama film directed by Ben Affleck released in 2012. The film is based on real occurrences and features a covert CIA operation to retrieve six American diplomats during the Iran hostage crisis of 1979 to 1981. It is a blend of Hollywood satire and a political thriller that has features of intense espionage.
The Iranian Revolutionaries ilnvasion of the US Embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979 marked the start of a new episode in American-Iranian relations. The Iranian Revolutionaries took 52 Americans hostage. During this turmoil, 6 American diplomats were able to escape to the residence of Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor. The US government had to deal with the challenge of rescuing these 6 diplomats, all the while considering the complex and hostile situation.
Let’s welcome Tony Mendez, who is an exfiltration specialist with the CIA. Mendez plans an unorthodoxives plan. He will claim as a Canadian film producer who is scouting exotic locations in Iran for a fake movie called ‘Argo’. The six hidden diplomats will be passed off as his film crew. To bolster the cover, the CIA collaborates with Hollywood to construct a fully-fledged film production—from scripts and storyboards to trade ads and a production office. Hollywood makeup artist John Chambers and producer Lester Siegel, a fictional character based on real-life producer Robert Sidell, help create the charade.
The plan is approved and executed. Mendez goes to Tehran as a producer, trains the six Americans in their film crew personas, and as the clock is ticking and tensions are high, the plan faces the pressure of tight deadlines, red tape, and lots of what-ifs.
The film’s climax occurs in Tehran airport where Mendez and all six fugitives need to get through several security lines with fake documents and fake emotions under intense glares. In a stunning piece of cinema, they are able to board a Swissair flight, and once they are out of Iranian airspace, both the viewers and the characters let out a sigh of relief.
The mission stays under wraps until the CIA publicly takes responsibility in 1997. The film wraps up with a message about the incredible bravery and creativity of the people involved in the operation, and the diplomatic ties that were made between the two nations.
Cast & Crew
Affleck not only directs the movie but also acts as Tony Mendez, the CIA officer who leads the operation. The character’s emotional restraint and the film’s success heavily rely on the actor’s steadfast performance, as the film’s emotional core draws from the tension-laden, life-and-death operation.
Cranston is serving as O’Donnell, Mendez’s boss and an operative with the CIA. The character is important as a liaison between the Mendez and the government and so he is able to infuse importance and tension to the character.
As the former CIA-connected makeup artist for Hollywood, John Chambers is played by John Goodman. Goodman’s role adds an element of warmth to the film, emphasizing the strange yet useful partnership of Hollywood with intelligence agencies.
In an Oscar-nominated role, Alan Arkin plays the fictional, composite character of film producer Lester Siegel who aids in the public-facing sale of the “Argo” movie. Arkin adds to the character’s comedic brilliance, providing some of the film’s most memorable quips, including the iconic phrase, “Argo f*** yourself.”
Other supporting cast members include:
Tate Donovan as Bob Anders
Clea DuVall as Cora Lijek
Scoot McNairy as Joe Stafford
Kerry Bishé as Kathy Stafford
Christopher Denham as Mark Lijek
Rory Cochrane as Lee Schatz
Victor Garber as Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor
The screenplay, awarded to Chris Terrio, was adapted from the Wired Magazine article, “The Great Escape,” by Joshuah Bearman from 2007 alongside Mendez’s memoir, “The Master of Disguise.” Terrio’s script won an Oscar as the Best Adapted Screenplay.
As for the cinematography, Rodrigo Prieto recreates the 70s ambience with documentary-like realism, while the editing for the film’s airport climax by William Goldenberg is fast-paced, suspenseful, and tight.
Middle Eastern themes and traditional orchestral elements are woven into the film’s score by Alexandre Desplat, adding to the film’s tension and cultural nuance.
Ratings and Reviews from IMDb
Argo’s IMDb rating is a solid 7.7 out of 10, a score derived from countless reviews. This suggests that the audience is satisfied and appreciates the film’s tension and balanced direction between drama and historical accuracy.
Argo received critical acclaim soon after its release. Reviewers appreciated the film’s evocative plot, masterful direction, and outstanding acting, especially by Affleck, Arkin, and Goodman. While some reviewers argued that the film strayed from reality, overemphasizing the impact of a Canadian embassy and romanticizing Iranian characters, most people accepted that the film’s portrayal of the rescue operation and the farcical use of a fake film as a cover was brutally realistic.As for other awards and achievements after release, we can take a look at the achievements Argo and won three Oscars in the 85th held in 2013 at the Dolby Theatre in
Best Picture
Best Adapted Screenplay (Chris Terrio)
Best Film Editing (William Goldenberg)
Affleck won several awards including
The Golden Globe for Best Director
The BAFTA for Best Director
The Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film
The film also won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama and the BAFTA for Best Film, thus proving to be one of the most awarded films in 2012.
As for the other aspects we can add Argo also captured the public’s imagination by showing a complex part of American History and covert intelligence activities as the role of film in diplomacy, Hollywood’s treatment of the truth and the politics of films.
Argo is a richly layered thriller which goes beyond its historical frameworks by providing the viewer with a captivating cinematic experience. It is a rare combination of Hollywood drama and humor with real world, real-time geopolitical tension. The cast came together to create a masterpiece of entertainment, further elevated by the flawless production design and heart-racing climax. Almost a decade after its release, the film continues to demonstrate the fact that reality can, and oftentimes is, far more marvelous and shocking than fiction.
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