From a world were movies are inside movies

Rating: 10/10 (30 October 2012)

Just after watching Inglorious Basterds I had a beautiful feeling of respect and admiration for the movie industry. What we saw then was history rewritten to revolve around the movie theatre. It was a beautiful mingle of facts and disbelief soaked with references of our culture and love for the cinema.
Argo came with a similar theme of movies inside our movie. The difference lies on the tense and exciting realism Ben Affleck brought into this historical event. Spies, facts, politics and entertainment all play part on this thriller full of realism. Not to be surprise though, since Argo comes from the director of Gone Baby Gone and the Town.
All the events are presented chronologically. One by one Affleck builds up the suspense with the most amazing sophistication. Each event is adding to the development of the story and is surely making us go inch by inch towards the edge of our seat.
As an spectator you are aware of everyone's state of mind and by having certain among of information of what the Iranians are investigating, the tension builds more and more. You know mostly what the TV news (in the movie) are telling you. You just don't know how much they know. You are lost in the middle of a hunt game. For every action that brings the Americans in hiding closer to escape, the Iranians get one step closer to finding their trail. All the actions are difficult and time consuming so the illusion of time passing adds more to the frustration of all characters (and we as spectators). Affleck manages to keep this conduct during the entire conflict, bringing always a subtle piece of information to the wrong hands and getting the characters to the line, about to behave out of desperation and pressure giving us a constant sense of being in front of a ticking bomb with no clock on it. Argo manages to keep this line of storytelling and thrilling emotions right 'till the absolute end of the movie when you're barely breathing out of claustrophobia. A film with a great visual tone, amazing script and wonderful casting. Shoot as if it was done in the 70s and it feels like if you were there in the conflict.
I only have one wish today... Ben, when are you doing the next one?