Iran- 1979 Six American Lives Hang In The Balance.

Rating: 8/10 (28 April 2020)

ARGO is a true story that took place on November 4th, 1979. This is also known as The Canadian Caper, which took place from 1979-1980. ARGO begins when Iranian terrorist take 66 American hostages at gunpoint from the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Six American's are able to escape and find solace with the Canadian Ambassador, Ken D. Taylor( Victor Garber). The six Americans are Lee Schatz(Rory Cochran), Robert Anders(Tate Donovan), Kathleen Stafford( Kerry Bishe'), Joe Stafford( Scoot McNary), Mark Lijek( Chris Denham) and Cara Lijek(Clea Duvall).
When the U.S. Government gets word of this, they talk to Jack O'Donnell( Bryan Cranston) of the CIA. O'Donnell gets CIA fixer Tony Mendez( Ben Afflack) to get them out. O'Donnell and Mendez devise a plan, make a fake movie. A Sy-Fy flick, like the super blockbuster, Star Wars.Mendez will pretend to be a Hollywood film producer, who is scouting locations to shoot in Tehran, Iran. He talks with Les Siegal( Alan Arkin) a huge movie producer and John Chambers( John Goodman) a Hollywood make-up artist for help. The film ARGO, an out of this world SY-Fy Flick. In conjunction with the Canadian government a plan is set. The help Of the Canadian Government is a must. A creation of six fake Canadian Passports are created and given to Mendez before he leaves for Iran.
Mendez is on his way to pull off a rescue mission were no mistakes can be made. Once he lands in Tehran, he his taken to she the hostages. He tells them who he is and his plan for getting them out. He also explains they too, have a part in this also. He is going to teach them how to act as a film crew, and everybody needs to know what their part is or it's-GOODBYE. They do rehearsals, promote the film with fake posters, and mingle with the citizen's. They have to gain some trust with the local's to ease their nerves. As this goes on for awhile , they have to watch every move they make. It is a hostile area gun fire is active, people are getting executed in broad daylight, and check points are everywhere.
When it is time to escape it looks like they are going to have issues. The plan tickets of some of the hostages arrive late. They undergo constant screening, and they make Lee Schatz take his sunglasses off twice. It especially gets tense when they get ready to board. One guard/ Iranian police holds them at the gate forever. A security call is made to check on Tony Mendez. In the states the call comes in, but it rings forever. At the right time Chambers answers the phone, a check is made about the location of Mendez. Chambers tells them his on location, big break.It checks out and they are finally free to board. These Americans were held for 87 days in Tehran, Iran. Thanks to the help of the Canadian government these hostages got home, and the rest is history.
I have to admit the first time I watched this movie, I hated it. I recently re watched again and liked it. I do like Rory Cochrane and thought he was excellent as Lee Schatz to a T. I have never been a fan of Ben Afflack, but he was decent in this one. I do want to see his new movie THE WAY BACK, because it's about basketball. I want to see it because I played for yrs.
As for the film, I believe it was overrated, but what Oscar winning film isn't these days?