Sunday 11 November 2012

Cinema Review - Argo

Ben Affleck is no stranger to critically acclaimed films, his previous directing efforts Gone Baby Gone and The Town both proving he possesses the abilities behind the camera to forge a whole new direction in his film career. This year, he once again returns to the pinnacle of filmmaking with one of the year's best films, Argo.

Based on a true story, Argo opens with the U.S. embassy in Tehran under attack from militants, resulting in six American personnel turning fugitive in Iran and seeking solace at the Canadian embassy until it is possible for them to return home. Unfortunately such a task is one that even the CIA and American government are experiencing mass difficulty with, until CIA specialist Tony Mendez (Affleck) hatches a plan that may well be unbelievable but could be the only answer to the sextet's safe return home.

That plan involves creating a fake movie named Argo, along with a fake movie company and all the trimmings, and using it as a cover to get the six 'recruited' as part of the cast and then sent back home on a plane. With the help of Hollywood make-up artist John Chambers (John Goodman) and producer Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin), Mendez has the lives of six people in his hands in what is an unbelievably tense series of events.

Argo is pure tension bottled up and unleashed all in one foray of drama unmatched by any this year. Ben Affleck once again shows his prowess behind the camera and also puts in a good turn in the lead role. For all those involved, an incredible cast to behold indeed, it is the comedic double act of John Goodman and Alan Arkin that steal the show, two veterans of film playing hilariously off one another and creating memorable characters.

Blending humour with heart-pounding drama, Affleck showcases to the world he is at his best when in the director's chair and after an impressive two films in the role, he knocks it out of the park with a film that will leave you with lack of nails and have you sitting on the edge of your seat. 

Simply incredible and amongst the best of the year, Argo is pure unadulterated cinema at its most dramatic. 

Film Rating: 4.5 F's out of 5

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