When was the last time you clapped at the end of a movie?
For me, it was at the end of Ben Affleck's newest directorial feature, and one of the most exciting movies released this year, Argo.
Argo is based on the declassified true story of six United States diplomats who escaped the American embassy in Iran before it was captured by Iranian civilians, an event which began the Iran Hostage Crisis that would last 444 days in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The six diplomats find their way from the embassy to the Canadian ambassador's house, where they can hide until they can leave the country safely.
Here is where the movie picks up. CIA specialist Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) is charged by his boss (Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston) with the task of finding a way to get the hostages out of the extremely volatile (and anti-American) country. Mendez comes up with idea to have the six Americans pose as a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a science fiction movie called 'Argo.' From there, Mendez contacts make-up artist John Chambers (John Goodman) and producer Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) in Hollywood to help make this fake film seem real. Hopefully, if this appears legitimate enough, the ruse will get the Americans back home.
The movie, which runs at almost exactly two hours, starts off with a bang, showing the invasion of the American embassy in Iran in 1979, and it never slows down. The situation is tense right from the start, and the last 30 minutes of the movie are absolutely riveting. I won't spoil any plot details (though, as a true story, they are readily available online), but the movie easily keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what will happen next. The action isn't violent or shoot-em-up; rather, it is an uneasy feeling of not knowing what will happen to the six Americans, or those trying to save them, at any point.
Affleck shows true prowess as a director with this film. He is so confident in his material that, during the credits, he compares his shots in the movie to actual pictures of the Iranian situation at that time. It certainly shows. The film is well-crafted in its pacing as well as in the shots that were used.
The opening scene shows the rush of the Iranians into the embassy from an aerial view, and the effect is chilling as we see the Americans inside frantically try to burn or shred any document in sight. For extra effect, Affleck chooses to put in real news footage throughout the film to intensify the situation. This technique also effectively provides background and adds a sense of realism to the film.
The acting in the film is also top notch. Affleck is rather impressive in his role as Mendez. He pulls it off and plays the determined and smart CIA agent convincingly. However, it is the supporting actors who truly steal the show. Alan Arkin is excellent as the sarcastic, bombastic movie producer who begins the fake movie process. He and John Goodman, who plays the make-up artist and Tony's main Hollywood contact, add depth and quite a bit of humor to the film. They are given all the best lines, such as when Arkin's character humorously quips "If I'm gonna make a fake movie, it's gonna be a fake hit."
The movie takes some pride in poking fun at Hollywood and those who do business there. Bryan Cranston also shines as Mendez's boss at the CIA, and colorfully plays a character that could have easily been lost in the shuffle and tension of the movie. Without these three supporting actors, the movie would not have been nearly as good, as they add layers to the film.
The screenplay, written by Chris Terrio, is intriguing and fast-paced. Though none of the characters are particularly appealing emotionally, the storyline and the situations are incredibly tension-filled. There were moments when I audibly gasped at events occurring on the screen, both a combination of impressive camera work (done by Academy Award nominee Rodrigo Prieto) and the effective screenplay. The last 30 minutes, which go back and forth between the hiding Americans and those back in the United States, are absolutely incredible, and some of the most exciting moments I've seen in film. The editing and directing there are superb.
Overall, Argo is a smart, dramatic and thrilling movie. What makes it so effective is that it has a little bit of everything. The drama is intense because it is real. This story is too incredible to make up, and because of that, everything about the film is realistic and fascinating. The movie also has a significant amount of comedy to it, especially in the Hollywood scenes; this keeps the film on the lighter side when the events surrounding the situation are literally life and death. The action is exciting and fast-paced without a single gunshot fired. Again, because the situation concerns the lives of the six hiding Americans, the suspense builds and builds until the climax as they try to escape.
At the end of Argo, the audience and I clapped. At a film, as there is no curtain call or live performers to hear the praise, it is quite the compliment to hear applause, and this film certainly deserved it.
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