How Can You Love "Argo" Not?

“Argo” begins with the 1970’s era Warner Brothers logo, the one in which the white “W” comes towards you then another one comes towards you over a red background. Even though, in the 70's, Warner Brothers was a Warner Communications Company and not a Time Warner Company as it is today, I still loved seeing the old logo. Yep, I am a big dork. Let’s go!

“Argo” is the best film I have seen so far this year. Ben Affleck’s film is a tense thriller based on true events that occurred in January, 1980. In 1979, Iranian militants had taken over the American Embassy in Tehran and had taken 50 Americans hostage. The film does a great job of outlining the history of what had happened up to the point of the action in the film. Six of the people who worked at the office were able to get to the home of the Canadian ambassador for temporary safety. The story of “Argo” surrounds American efforts to sneak these six people out of Iran and back to the United States. Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) is given the task of coming up with a plan that will bring home these six. As the trailer for the film suggests, so it is no secret, Mendez devises a plan of setting up production of a fake movie that will necessitate desert-like locations. Mendez is given permission to go to Hollywood where the U.S. government has a contact in make-up artist, John Chambers (John Goodman). Chambers and Mendez convince Hollywood producer, Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) to go along with the idea, giving Mendez everything he needs to set up a hopefully perfect ruse. Ads are printed in Variety for the upcoming film, actors are hired for a table read, papers are produced to present to the Iranian government stating that said film will be filmed in Iran. “Argo” is the name of the fake movie. It is to be a science fiction film. At the time, in the late 70’s, there were many low budget sci-fi films being made to cash in on the popularity of “Star Wars.” Remember “Battle Beyond the Stars” and the greatness of “Star Crash” starring Marjoe Gortner? So everything is in order for Mendez to go to Iran and meet the six Americans who are living at the Canadian ambassador’s home. The plan developed by Mendez, Chambers, and Siegel is a very risky one. As noted by Jack O’Donnell (Bryan Cranston), Mendez’s boss, when presenting the idea to the Secretary of State, “This is the best bad idea we have, sir.” This is one of many great lines in the film. I am glad I did not know anything about this particular story. It is based on true events, however, my knowledge of the “Argo” story was non-existent. This made the film even more tense, a tenseness of the good variety.

“Argo” works perfectly as a thriller. It is also a very funny film, as witty and sometimes, smartass lines of dialogue are spread throughout the film and these lines and the film's sense of humor work perfectly to compliment the drama and tenseness of the film. All of the performances are brilliant, most of note being Ben Affleck. I have never seen a better performance by Affleck. I hope he gets an Oscar nomination for his acting and his direction of the film. Goodman and Arkin are fantastic as the gentlemen from Hollywood. Bryan Cranston, who is beyond brilliant as Walter White on the television drama, “Breaking Bad,” is solid as Tony Mendez’s boss at the CIA. The actors and actresses as the six Americans are wonderful as well. I love this movie!! The final 45 minutes is some of the best, tensest filmmaking I have seen. The story unfolds in a spellbinding fashion. The film is 120 minutes, not overlong, and it speeds by. I cannot recommend this film any more highly! Every section of the film works very well—the set-up of what is to come in the film, the set-up of the plan, the events that follow, and the end of the film is very well done. As well, the look of the film is flawless. The hairstyles, costume design, and set pieces perfectly represent 1979 and 1980. I appreciated the film’s nod to science-fiction film action figures which dorks like me will definitely notice and appreciate. I appreciated the fact that the film is not overrun with music from the era. It is common for films set in a particular era to overuse songs of the day. "Argo" does incorporate a few songs during the Hollywood segment of the film, however, they were songs of which I had a cursory knowledge, songs not heard often in movies. We didn't hear "Car Wash" or "I Will Survive" at any point during the film. I only have one problem with anything in the set design category. At one point, Mendez is eating a McDonald’s hamburger. The burger was wrapped in paper, as it is today. I remember when I was a kid, which would have been in 1979-80, McDonald’s burgers being served in Styrofoam containers. That is my biggest problem with “Argo.” See how perfect it is? Go see it as soon as you can. There will surely be more excellent films released between now and the end of the year, however, I do not anticipate being as highly entertained and emotionally involved in any film this year more than I was with “Argo.”