Astonighingly good work from Affleck. Yes...Ben Affleck.

Rating: 9/10 (30 October 2012)

For anyone who doesn't believe in second comings, one just has to turn to....Ben Affleck? Yes. Ben Affleck.
After making a huge name for himself in the late 90s and early 00s as an actor and heartthrob, winning an Oscar (yes, everyone, remember, Affleck already has an Oscar for co-writing "Good Will Hunting" with Matt Damon) and being half of Bennifer, "Gigli" happened and Affleck from being the most over-exposed man in the world to all but disappearing for a few years.
And then, he rose from the ashes, first proving himself as someone who could actually act in "Hollywoodland" before making his completely-out-of-left-field mark as a promising director with "Gone Baby Gone" (which he also wrote). And then, for those who thought it was potentially beginners luck, he went on to write and direct the highly-acclaimed "The Town," which many thought would lead him to bask in some more Oscar nominations. Ultimately, the film got nothing but an acting nomination for Jeremy Renner, but the seed was planted.
Now, Affleck returns once again to the director's chair and the lead-actor's position with "Argo," the completely ridiculous-but-true story of how a fake film thought to be in production by a fake Canadian production team helped extricate six American hostages from Iran during the Iran Hostage Crisis in 1979. Based on the true story of CIA operative Tony Mendez, declassified in 1997 by Bill Clinton, the storyline of this movie would be considered completely idiotic if it weren't based on true events.
Affleck, as Mendez, takes on the role, and 70s chic, with an incredibly impressive voracity. As a man doing exactly what he specializes in trying to pull off what most thought was a suicide mission, Affleck shows a great strength in his depiction of vulnerability. But with such an outstanding cast around him, and this film truly is a group effort, including excellent performances from everyone from Victor Garber, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, the delicious Tate Donovan and a possible Oscar-nomination for the impeccable Bryan Cranston (can this man do no wrong?), "Argo" may very well put Affleck in the spotlight for yet another couple of nominations himself, including Best Director.
A film based on true events can be a tough sell for a thriller, when many know the ultimate outcome walking into the cinema, thus making tension difficult to achieve. However, this film is so impeccably edited and paced, despite knowing exactly what happened, the levels of stress were still fully formulated that you find yourself on the edge of your seat, just waiting for the moment you can let it all go, as a tear runs down your face.
I salute Mr. Affleck. Not only has the man gone from Oscar winner to action superstar to tabloid fodder to punch line to, now, distinguished director, he has carried himself with grace and charisma and has shown that underneath the silliness of his early days, there was a real cinematic talent there that just needed the right time, the right push and the right story. He found that in "Gone Baby Gone" And because of that, we got...."Argo." And yeah, the dude is still smoking hot.