Argo

Reviewed by Ethan Wasdovitch

It is almost impossible to comprehend that Ben Affleck is the man responsible for this film (let alone the equally impressive films The Town and Gone Baby Gone).  Affleck has gone from a nearly-laughable product of Hollywood (remember Gigli?) to one of the best directors working today.  In short, Argo is probably his best film yet and is a step in the right direction that proves that Affleck can tackle a genre outside of crime thrillers.  While not a revelation or a masterpiece, Argo is awfully close to both.

Based on an incredible and inspiring true series of events, Argo tells the story of six Americans who avoided being captured in Iran in 1979 when Ayatollah Khomeini’s new reign over the country caused a dangerous backlash against Western ideology (particularly American culture).  Tony Mendez (played with astonishing finesse by Affleck himself) devises an idea to get the six hiding hostages out of Iran before they are found and possibly publicly executed.  His plot involves creating a fake film production that will trick Iranian officials into believing the six hostages are part of a Canadian film crew in order to safely escort them out of the country.  This rather complicated story is presented very clearly and is never once confusing.  Many who have a lack of knowledge on the historical event itself should have no problem following the story.

One of the strongest aspects of the film is the cast.  Ben Affleck has an uncanny ability to assemble a very strong cast that aids in the pacing and aesthetics of the movie.  Other standouts in the film are Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin and John Goodman (Arkin providing some of the best lines in the film.  “Argo fuck yourself!”).  It should be noted that Argo, despite its dead-serious material, is surprisingly funny and easy to watch.  Dialogue is snappy and humorous, and the actors are talented enough to make everything believable.  This is no small feat, and Argo’s two hour runtime feels more like an hour as a result.

The last hour of Argo is undoubtably the main reason to see the film.  Edited with incredible suspense and passion, the final part of the movie will have you grasping your armrest and holding your breath in anticipation.  A true emotional bond is created, especially pertaining to the six American hostages.  You don’t want them to get caught, and you will wince whenever they have a close encounter with the forces that are working against them.  I was actually quite surprised with the amount of emotion in this movie, especially towards the end.  Without giving anything away, it is safe to say that many will be moved to tears by the time Argo comes to a close.

Having said all of that, Argo has a set of problems that set it back slightly.  The only major complaint I have about this movie is that Affleck has not yet created his own visual flair as a director.  In many ways, Argo is simply another superbly crafted political drama with many exciting moments and boatloads of excellent acting.  However, Affleck has yet to make a film that “feels” like a Ben Affleck film.  This is a minor criticism and this being his third film, I’m sure he can do nothing but develop as a director.  A gripe that some people will inevitably have with Argo is the lack of action in the traditional sense.  This is not a shoot-em-up, running through the allies thriller.  Argo is very dialogue heavy and thick with constant disagreements and discourse.  The action, however, is the the words.  It’s impossible to say that Argo is not exciting, because (as previously stated) this film has some of the most intense moments in recent memory.  I fear that many people (having seen the exciting trailer) are expecting more face-offs with bad guys and bullet dodging.  You won’t find any of that in Argo.  What you’ll find instead is a very intelligent and emotional thriller that is driven by dialogue and smart framing.

While director Ben Affleck has yet to discover his visual tag as a director, he has made another great movie.  Argo is his best work yet (as a director and an actor) and will definitely please history buffs and fans of political thrillers.  Hell, even general audiences should have no problem loving this movie.  Argo is not a revelatory motion picture, but it is a highly commendable one.  An impeccable cast, razor sharp script, and glowing emotional resonance makes Argo one of the best films of 2012 so far.  Expect to see this one nominated for a slew of Academy Awards, and don’t be surprised if Argo takes home the award for best picture of the year.

9/10

Ethan's Top 10 Movies of All Time: Part 2 (5 - 1)

5. Dazed and Confused

• Out of every film on this list, I have seen this one more than any of them.  The first time I saw it was sometime in high school, and ever since I have watched this movie at least one time a month.  There were even times where I would watch it nightly or one time after another.  There is just something about this meandering comedy/drama that is endlessly entertaining.  There isn’t really any “story”, but the film is a look at high school students in America during the mid-1970s.  We follow a few different groups on the last day of school, from when school gets out to a raging keg party in the country.  Each scene has quotable material and watching it feels like you’re revisiting some very fond memories.  A slick and entertaining film.

4. the Thin Red Line

• Terrence Malick can be described with one word: divisive.  The Thin Red Line is one of his more accessible films, but even at that it is a tough nut to crack.  Many people write it off because they find it tedious, pretentious, overlong, and confusing.  It is hard to defend the movie, because Malick’s style is so hit or miss.  All of that aside, I find this movie to not only be his best film (with the recent Tree of Life in a close second), but one of the greatest films ever made.  It is a World War II film that focuses not the reality of war and the gritty violence of battle, but rather on the philosophical implications of war and the inherent nature of violence in humanity.  Themes such as mortality, thanatophobia, and religion are all touched in this epic 3 hour long film.  Certainly not for everybody, but an absolute must see for serious film buffs and those who are willing to take on some more challenging material.  

3. Alien

• I remember the first time I saw this movie, and I remember how clearly and distinctly it impacted me.  I was 13 or 14 years old and it was a Saturday night.  I saw that this movie called Alien was playing on television and I decided to stay up to watch it.  Never before had a film so instantly scared the crap out of me.  The first half of this now classic science fiction/horror movie is mysterious and thought-provoking, and the second half is an intense blast of terror.  The iconic Xenomorph creature remains an amazing creation of cinema, and it is impossible to count how many times this film has been ripped off and copied by other filmmakers.  Director Ridley Scott began his hot streak with this film and continued to make great films over the years (which he continues to do… including the recent revival of the same franchise with Prometheus).   Each detail of this movie is stunning, and watching it now still has the same impact.  For a movie as old as this, it is shocking how well it has retained its impact and visual splendor.

2. the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

• If you can’t already tell from the last movie on my list, I have an odd love of horror movies.  I find that their liberties with human logic and their lack of restraint is unique and unmatched in any other genre.  Certainly, horror has become somewhat of a self-satire over the years, but movies such as the original 1974 Texas Chainsaw Massacre show how a horror movie should be made.  This film is the definition of gritty.  Shot with a tiny budget on 6mm film stock, Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s visual style and relentless plot changed what a horror movie could do.  The cast of relatively unknown actors and the rustic settings make it all the more convincing.  While it may appear quite dated and somewhat tame next to the recent wave of torture-porn horror films, Texas Chainsaw Massacre still retains a surprising shock value that will make you want to take a shower after the end credits roll.

1. There Will Be Blood

• Well here we are.  Perhaps not the most surprising of choices for a favorite film, but definitely much more modern than some critics would approve of.  Before I saw There Will Be Blood I had never seen a Paul Thomas Anderson film, and having now seen his other films I can say that they just barely can be compared in quality with this masterpiece (except for perhaps The Master… but that’s a discussion for a future date).  There Will Be Blood is unlike any movie I have ever seen.  The plot is simple enough (an ambitious man slowly builds up an oil company until he can reap the financial benefits endlessly out of greed and corruption), but the way this film plays out is difficult to describe.  Johnny Greenwood’s terrifying score would have felt out of place in any other film, but for some reason its menace perfectly matches the madness that is slowly overtaking the film’s main character.  I should also mention that Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance is, in my opinion, the finest to ever grace the screen.  While that is obviously debatable, I can’t help but offer this movie up as not only my favorite movie ever, but also the greatest movie ever.  The pacing is slow, the acting impeccable, the cinematography gorgeous (won an Oscar), and the impact is instant.  After I first saw the film in 2007, I didn’t know what to think of it or how to describe it.  After seeing There Will Be Blood countless times since, I have come to realize that it is everything about movies that I love.