Argo

2012 • 120 minutes

About this movie

Oscar® winner Ben Affleck (Good Will Hunting, The Town) directs and stars in this real-life political intelligence dramedy based on a true story. Produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smokehouse Pictures (Ides of March), this hostage rescue picture follows CIA "exfiltration" operative and master of disguise Tony Mendez (Affleck), who sets out to rescue a handful of American diplomats hiding out in 1979 Tehran. Pretending to be a film location scouting crew, Mendez and a motley crew of Hollywood artists, escape artists and con-artists smuggle the six embassy workers to safety in a daring rescue. With a supporting cast that includes Oscar® winner Alan Arkin, Golden Globe winner John Goodman and Emmy® winner Bryan Cranston, Affleck's political satire represents an "escape" into a real-world ©caper.

Ratings and reviews

A film about a wild historical moment that falls apart due to a poorly written script. I have no idea what tension critics saw in this movie. The hostages are seriously unlikable and they spend most of the movie sipping wine in the Canadian consulate's house. If your idea of tension is lying to get through customs, then I guess this is a real thriller. The presence of Goodman and Arkin are the only thing that kept me awake.

I went into this movie with high,expectations when I watched it last november. It had the highest cumulative rating on,rotten tomatoes with a 96% and the awards talk was already heating up. But when I saw it, I was incredibly disappointed. With adequate acting and an interesting plot, it put the event in perspesctive. However, the filmmakers overlooked or overhyped the most important details of the movie. And every five seconds there's an awful CLICHE. Affleck needs a lot more directorial work...

I've never considered myself a big Affleck fan but his portrayal in this film is excellent. Well done period piece about the Iran hostage crisis and the elaborate plot created to free several of the hostages. Even though you knew the outcome beforehand, the story still manages to put the viewer on the edge of his/her seat which is quite a feat.