Argo (2012)

Argo (2012)

7/10

Starring

Ben Affleck

Bryan Cranston

Alan Arkin

John Goodman

Directed by Ben Affleck

Finally, I swallowed the beef I had towards Ben Affleck and watched Argo. I have to admit, it’s one movie that I really agree is worth its Academy Award for Best Picture. Based on a true story about how Iranian students stormed the American Embassy in Iran, took 52 hostages, and six people escaped and hid in the Canadian Embassy.

So, Tony Mendez, a CIA operative, went to Iran under the guise of making a film. He brought fake passports and fake backstories for the six, having them play producer, director, screenwriter, and crew to help them escape Iran.

The movie is an adaptation of Tony Mendez’s book The Master of Disguise and Joshuah Bearman’s 2007 Wired article The Great Escape.

Now that we have all this background out of the way, back to the film. The most captivating thing about this movie is the screenplay. At every turn, things seemed to be almost out of sync with the plan, but one way or another, things got back on track. It’s those heart-thumping moments that make the movie worth the time I spent watching it.

I kept imagining myself in the shoes of the six, going through the Iranian streets pretending to be Canadians. There was a time when they almost got swallowed up in a riot—at that point, your mind starts racing about how they’re going to escape. Then, after they made it through, there was another pending riot set to break out in a market-like setting, with your mind also racing at the possibility of getting out of this mess.

All through the movie, you’re kept on the edge of your seat. This dramatic adaptation of what seemed like the biggest trick back in the day will have you feeling sorry for the other 52 hostages who didn’t get the opportunity to get away.

One other reason I liked this movie is that after watching it, it makes you want to read. I had to go do some research and read up on what happened to the other 52 hostages. When you’re done reading about what happened to them—how they underwent mock executions, torture, and pain—you pray to God that you never witness such things.

At the end of the movie, you know you just witnessed a great escape, truly.
I don’t know if I’m truly looking forward to seeing Affleck mount the Batman mask, but whichever way it may turn, there’s a Batman vs Superman showdown on the way, and Ben Affleck is now our new Batman.