It took me some time to watch "Argo" due to long working hours. So it came that I had to drive one hour to the only cinema that was still showing this move, yet somehow I thought it was worth the trouble and wasn't disappointed.
I would like to start by saying that I hadn't seen any of the movies Ben Affleck has directed before, but of course had heard he was an even better director than actor (I have always liked him as an actor) and I admit he is!
One of the things that have impressed me about "Argo" was that despite of (or because of?) its calm demeanor the movie manages easily to keep the suspension up for two hours. In a way this mirrors the characters and their situation. At all times they have to appear calm in public while in reality they were tense beyond imagination.
I also like the fact, that the movie quality was made "to look" like a 70ies movie as it greatly enhanced the atmosphere and at times you had the feeling you were watching an old documentary of the time.
The acting of the whole cast was superb. I would like to mention in particular Ben Affleck himself, Alan Arkin and John Goodman who render beautifully understated performances, which in my opinion supported the credibility of the movie. I personally was impressed with Scoot McNairys performance, whom I had never seen in a movie before, but is definetely a name one should keep in mind. He steals every scene he is in.
*minor spoilers*
I am not going to spoil too much (Although in this movie the point is not what happens, but rather how is happens). To me there was one thing in particular that impressed me and in my eyes interpreted best how the "houseguests" must have felt. I write "interpreted" consciously since this is one of the ficticious scenes of the movie.
The scene I am referring to is, when they get stopped at the airport and Scoot McNairy's character tries to explain the situation to the security personel in Farsi. What Mr. Affleck did (I only watched the dubbed version, but I assume the original version is the same in that aspect) is that he choose not to add subtitles to the conversation execpt for an explanation as to why he speaks Farsi. The viewer finds himself again in the same situation as the "houseguests". We are not understanding what is going on, but know that their lives depend on the outcome of that conversation.
*minor spoilers end*
I have only one very small issue with the movie, which has been addressed already many times, but I feel the urge to mention it to, so that this review is "complete". The movie neglects the assistance of the British and New Zealand diplomats, when in fact they also assisted. I understand that for the movie actual facts had to be shortened and events simplified, but as a final comment was inserted to acknowledge the canadian efforts I would have love to see that justice done to the British and New Zealand diplomats as well.
Still I believe Ben Affleck has created a wonderful masterpiece. "Argo" is intelligent movie, that manages to keep you glued to your seat. The cast is fabulous and the only reason that no single actor sticks out, it that each one of them is fanastic. The historical "inacuracies" can be forgiven, as in my opinion it helps to capture the mood and desperation of the situation.
I will certainly check out now the other movies Ben Affleck has directed.
Points 9/10
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