I wanted to score this higher but.......

Rating: 5/10 (31 December 2012)

OK it won best picture. But it really didn't deserve it. I stand by my original review of Argo. At least Ben briefly said Canada somewhere in his thank you. I think he may have even mentioned Ken Taylor by thanking Taylor.
I know. Don't get me wrong. As a thriller it was tension ridden and it did provide its thrills. That alone would have given the film high marks.
But..... As an historical thriller it is important to pay attention to the truth and not get all caught up in Hollywoodland. Oh sure a big part of the story was right on the truth but Ben just had to go and play with parts of it in order to make his thriller.
First off they underplayed the role of the Canadians and Ken Taylor. Sure they acknowledged the role of Taylor and the Canadians at the end but that was only after Affleck received complaints and actually talked to Ken Taylor. What you didn't talk to him before hand? Ben - he was a very important element in this film. It just wasn't all Hollywoodland and the CIA. Without Canada Argo wouldn't have happened. Canada was key. And it was the Canadians that pulled this off. Not Tony Mendes and the CIA. But then I am Canadian and we were slighted.
Second don't play with the credibility of the film. The story is already an incredible one. Why mess with it. Excuse me but Ben and Cranston talking on the phone as if they are in the same time zone just doesn't hold water. Worse the Iranian revolutionary guard calls the studio in Hollywood to confirm that the crew are who they say they are and once again we are led to believe that they are all in the same time zone. Give us a break. That couldn't happen.
But it was the ending where the film came off the wheels. The different time zones were bad enough but what the revolutionary guard don't have a telephone to call the tower and tell them to hold the plane? Worse that chase at the end was pure Hollywood. It didn't happen. Why again mess with the truth. Oh not enough thrills for the Hollywoodland audience? Give them a chase to get everyone excited.
Before that there was the tense scene through the marketplace. Great tension. But...... It never happened. Again another piece of Hollywoodland.
The film really held me throughout until we went into wind down and then it was WTF. Suddenly this very credible film about a real event turned into a Hollywood thriller complete with chases. Please. We are big boys and girls. We can handle the truth.
The opening was great giving us background. While I knew the background I am sure many wouldn't. So it was important to tell the US audience in particular that yes it was the US CIA and the British MI6 that helped arrange the overthrow of the an elected government to install their puppet the Shah. Controlling the oil was/is important to the west and they will do what it takes. The revolution of 1979 didn't come out of nowhere.
We did stay out of the politics but yes the Iranian hostage crisis destroyed the Carter Presidency. And we later learned that the incoming Reagan Presidency pre-arranged the release of the hostages on his taking office in return for arms and other favours. But that was Iran-Contra and another story. As well after the US government armed Iraq and the 8 year war was on between Iran and Iraq.
The Canadian caper as it should have been known was already an incredible story. Instead Ben turned it into a Hollywood thriller complete with a chase scene and rah rah American flag waving.
Best Picture of the Year? Not on your life. The Oscars blew it again.