Argo pulls Ben Affleck out of the cinematic quicksand of Gigli.

Rating: 10/10 (11 December 2012)

The Good: Great acting. Ben Affleck is great as CIA ex-filtration expert Tony Mendez. The rest of the characters are really well developed and the filmmaker was hilarious. John Goodman was really great as that guy who did all the make up for Planet Of The Apes.
Dialogue. Some of the best dialogue I've ever heard. It can be really dramatic but also has a little dark humour.
Great true story. You'd never believe this actually happened except for the fact that it did. It's a really clever story about saving some hostages from a country whilst trying to make sure they don't see you.
Direction by Ben Affleck. He's come a long way since Gigli and Pearl Harbour. This is his third movie and he has shown that he is one of the best directors of this generation. Three shots, three kills.
Great editing. It's not like a lot of true stories where they tell you it happened in the form of film. In this one, they try to make it sink in that this happened and also make you feel the period it's set. Real news reports and video footage were put in to make it look authentic and it does its job amazingly well.
Thrilling last act. I chewed my fingernails so much I doubt they'll grow again. This is a film that proves that you don't need a lot of violence to cause suspense or thrills. A truly ground-breaking film in an age where thrills rely heavily on intense violence and action.
The Bad: Only one nitpick I have is that Ben Affleck always seems to hold the same face throughout the film. But other than that, nothing bad.
Overall Verdict: 10/10: Instant Classic. When I look at this film overall, I feel like it has accomplished all the assets as to what makes a good true story thriller. Sticks to the facts, nail-biting thrills, brilliantly developed characters and great direction make Argo an Instant Classic.