Argo (2012)

Rating: 8/10 (11 March 2020)

Directed by Ben Affleck. Starring Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Tate Donovan, Scoot McNairy, Kerry Bishé, Clea Duvall, Rory Cochrane, Christopher Denham, Victor Garber, Titus Welliver, Zeljko Ivanek, Farshad Farahat, Bob Gunton, Richard Kind. (R)
Entertaining depiction of the perilous operation to rescue six American Embassy diplomats who eluded capture and hid themselves at the Canadian ambassador's house at the outset of the Iran hostage crisis. The "best of the bad ideas" to save them? Mock up a phony Hollywood film production for a "Star Wars"-ripoff called "Argo" and convince Iranian authorities that the workers are part of the production crew doing a location scout. A truth-is-stranger-than-fiction concept (classified for the better part of twenty years) given a crowd-pleasing and streamlined treatment--serves as a poor history lesson, and some viewers will find the changes to be unforgivable (even insulting), but it's presumably done for the sake of a clear, uncluttered story. Affleck's sure-handed direction balances the dire tension in Tehran with refreshing humor in Hollywood; manufactures palpable suspense even with the outcome known in advance (though the runway chase is a bit too much). Fine cast, with Goodman and Arkin delivering plenty of hilarious zingers and walking away with the movie. Oscar winner for Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay (by Chris Terrio) and Editing.
83/100