Argo 'ahem' yourself......

Rating: 9/10 (10 November 2012)

After Iranian militants stormed and took control of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in November 1979 taking 56 Americans as hostages, six Americans managed to get away and took refuge in the home of the Canadian Ambassador.
After two months of the Canadians putting their lives on the line everyday, the CIA and the US State Department try to come up with a plan to get their people out.
Tony Mendez is a specialist who proposes that they pose as a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a science fiction movie called Argo.
Using Hollywood connections, Mendez creates a back story for the movie - ads in Variety, casting calls, inviting he media to a production launch - and then heads off to Iran to lead the six Americans out......
When I first heard this film was being made, I had no education on the history of the movie, all I knew is that is was a true story based on something political in the middle east, with a really strange title.
I was expecting another Syriana, which I found very mundane.
But the reviews and the plaudits for this film got me very curious, so I went in cold, and I came out seeing one of the most gratifying films of the year.
Affleck once again proves he could be the new Eastwood in Hollywood and the way he mixes comedy with intense drama is wonderful.
Some scenes are just genius, like the scene where there is a rehearsal, and the captives are treated to a pseudo execution, and then Affleck showing us that both sides can put on a show.
Arkin And Goodman are the brilliant comic relief, and whenever they are on screen, the tension is ever so slightly lifted and relief sets in, apart from one scene involving a phone.
Affleck, considering he is the director, is really restraint in this movie, and plays it down, whilst the rest of the cast go for it, and it's to his credit, as it shows that his character has a lot riding on this.
It never lets up on tension, even when the six are enjoying their final meal, there is a sense that the door could be broken down at any second.
The final third is genuinely edge of your seat stuff, and I've never been so relieved to hear a air steward state that they were able to serve alcohol again.....I wanted to cheer with the six.
All in all, it's a wonderful movie, a perfect antidote to some of the dross movies that get dumped on us around this time of year, and really worthy of your attention.