One of the finest films of the year.

Rating: 9/10 (18 October 2012)

I was convinced after Gone Baby Gone and The Town that Ben Affleck was a director of the highest calibre, but for those unsure, Argo leaves zero doubt. Based on a true story (from 1980) about a crazy rescue operation to get six U.S. hostages out of Iran – by disguising them as a Canadian film crew scouting for a B-grade sci-fi flick, entitled Argo – Affleck captures both the life-threatening seriousness and funny-in-hindsight absurdity of the dangerous mission with absolute perfection. He's also brilliant in front of the camera as Tony Mendez, the CIA agent responsible for the creation and execution of the plan; his downplayed above-the-title performance supplemented by a wealth of fantastic supporting turns from the likes of Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Bryan Cranston, Scoot McNairy and many more familiar faces. The seamless blend of tones, in addition to the well-measured tension, razor-sharp dialogue and flawless period recreation, creates an enjoyable and absorbing experience that culminates into one of the finest features of the year.