Argo

by Tyler Darke

      Argo is one of those special movies that after watching, you can think of almost nothing to say but, "Wow." as you walk out of the theater. This captivating true story was brought to life vividly by Ben Affleck. 
      
      It is one thing to make a movie that explains a historical event to an audience. It is an entirely different thing to provide an audience the opportunity to essentially live through a historical event. It is a rare occurrence that few movies accomplish. Argo is officially one of those movies.

      The balance of drama, suspense, and comedy was perfect. The movie opens on a very dramatic scene, when the United States Embassy is taken over by the Iranians. In this and all of the dramatic scenes, you could clearly feel the emotions of each character in every situation. Fear was evident among all of the characters as they tried to pull off a near impossible mission. These dramatic scenes were carried by the nail-biting suspense of the scenes following Tony Mendez' (Affleck) arrival in Iran. Even though I knew the story, I was on the edge of my seat until the very end. The seriousness of many of these scenes was delightfully lightened by the comedic relief provided mostly by John Chambers (John Goodman) and Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin).

      The acting in Argo played a huge roll in creating a realistic experience for the viewer. Many of the characters looked identical to the people they portrayed. More importantly, they acted identically to the people they portrayed. Fear, love, joy, pain...all brought to life by the cast.

      Ben Affleck was robbed of two Academy Award nominations that he so rightfully deserved; Best Actor, and Best Director. Fortunately, the film as a whole was recognized with a Best Picture nomination.

      Argo is a one of a kind film, that quickly became one of my favorites, which is why I am hoping it will win Best Picture this year.

      If you would like to read about the real story, check it out on Wikipedia.

      "Argofuckyourself!" 10/10