#900: Argo (2012)

If there's one thing Hollywood loves it's Hollywood.

And Hollywood is the hero of the movie Argo. Starring and directed by Ben Affleck, and featuring a very strong supporting cast, Argo is about a real life mission to rescue six Americans who in 1979 escaped from the American embassy in Iran before it was seized by militants. These six are hiding in the Canadian embassy and their safety is wearing thin. Affleck plays a CIA agent specializing in extraction who comes up with the plan to rescue them: tell Iranian officials they're part of a Canadian film crew and sneak them out. It would be impossible to pull off the plan with they just words. So, Affleck's character Tony Mendez recruits a Hollywood make-up artist (John Goodman) and a producer (Alan Arkin) to fully create the artifice of the fake movie Argo, a shameless Star Wars rip-off.

The story is the main character of Argo and that's understandable, not only because it's based on a true story but because that story is so crazy. There's not a lot of character in the move otherwise. Affleck is the most rounded, he's smart, he drinks, he has a family and he cares. Other than that, we have the hostages, Hollywood and CIA brass. This doesn't hurt anything. Even though we don't know a lot about the hostages, the fact that they're in danger is enough to pull you in. It takes a little time though.

There's a stretch where Argo becomes a show biz comedy. Affleck is trying to set the whole thing up and there's several moments where he provides a set-up and Goodman or Arkin provide a punchline which usually boils down to, "Womp, womp, Hollywood!" It's usually funny, but eventually starts to fall into a predictable rhythm. Still, for their limited screen time we're endeared to Goodman and Arkin. The same goes for all the supporting players. Even though the hostages are more or less flags to be captured, they still feel like people. They have lives and relationships shown in moments rather than long minutes of tortured drama. Even Bryan Cranston, whose role doesn't really match up with his billing, becomes real in his moments.

Argo shines in its second half and really lives or dies by 20 minutes in particular. That's when it becomes an incredibly effective thriller. It's almost surprising how tense it becomes after its loose start. It is history, so if you're aware of the story it might not be as gripping, but it's undeniable that it's well done.

There's seems to be a general dislike for Ben Affleck and I've never really understood why. My first real impression of the man came from the audio commentary for Kevin Smith's Mallrats. On there, Affleck was loose, funny and self-deprecating. That's how I've thought of him ever since. His track record isn't perfect by any means, but he's moved on to a new stage in his career. He's become  a skilled director and that's given me all the more reason to like him.

 My guess is that Argo is going to win Best Picture at the next Academy Awards. Argo is a good movie, but what will really power its victory is the twin engines of America! and its portrayal of the power of Hollywood.