Argo is all about precision and following the rules to stay alive.

Rating: 9/10 (2 May 2014)

Ben Affleck is the director and the star in the movie Argo, about an undercover rescue of six Americans who escaped a militant raid into the U.S. embassy in Iran. The Americans secretly stayed hidden in a Canadian Ambassadors home until a plan is revised to help them escape the country. The theme is all about following the rules to stay alive.
Argo is based on events that actually happened in Iran beginning in November of 1979. Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck), works for the CIA and is their top candidate for coming up with a plan to help the six Americans escape Iran safely. Mendez recommends going undercover as film executives searching for a filming location for a sci-fi movie. Once he meets up with the Americans, he has the Iranians believe that they are part of his crew for the film. The film casts John Goodman as John Chambers who provides credentials for the "production crew". Victor Garber plays Ken Taylor as the Canadian Diplomat and Alan Arkin plays Lester Siegel, the Hollywood producer with all of the insights into the "fake" production of the movie cover up to help the Americans escape.
From the beginning of the movie to the very end, I was reeled in. I was in the 6th grade when I had first heard about the Iranian Hostage Crisis on the news. At that age, I remember feeling sorry for the Americans and yet a bit scared about what was happening and to hear that lives were lost during it all. Argo is a must see for anyone who remembers the whole Iran Crisis during this time.
This is a very moving and nail-biting movie pertaining to politics, foreign affairs and the misunderstood. The film gives some insight from the militant's point of view such as the Iran militants not wanting the Americans supporting the Shah of Iran, as this infuriated them even more. The militants would do anything to keep the current government in power. Argo exemplifies how far the American government will go to keep the American people out of harm's way. Argo may not be suitable for younger children, but definitely High School aged and up could relate it. Argo reminds me of Lincoln (2012). One man, Mendez (Affleck) has the responsibility to keep 6 Americans safe and bring them back to the U.S. during turmoil in Iran while being scrutinized by the government. Lincoln had the responsibility of keeping the nation safe from war while promoting the abolishment of slavery.
Argo is full of suspense, action and excitement. Don't even think of getting up to get some popcorn or you will miss detailed information that is throughout this film. The actors/actresses portraying the 6 Americans were right on target with their scripts and their apparel. The lighting was always a reddish hue behind the smoke filled rooms, as many of the characters smoked. Many up close shots of the characters faces showed the real emotions playing out in each scene, making the mood very believable. If they were scared, I felt scared, if they felt intimidated, I felt intimidated. This is how well this film drew the audience in. Tony Mendez (Affleck) played out every detail to keep everyone on their toes, and not blow their cover. The precision of the acting within the acting brought this film to a whole new level.