Argo
won best picture at the 2013 Academy Awards for good reason. The drama of the
year follows CIA operative Tony Mendez, played by Ben Affleck, as he delves in
on a top-secret operation to rescue six American fugitives from revolutionary
Iran. With the help of several Hollywood big shots and the Canadian Embassy in
Iran, the six manage to sneak through the country as a fake film crew scouting
locations for a fake movie, Argo. Despite setback after setback, the crew just
barely makes it past airport security, the hardest part of the mission, and
returns home, where the Canadians are praised for their help, while the CIA
receives no such recognition in order to maintain its cover.
The cinematography is phenomenal.
During edgy moments where viewers are feeling anxious, the camera movements are
often shaky and unsettling. During the calm moments, however, the camera is
completely still, which allows the actors to take full control over the scene
with no distractions. In addition, there seems to be a certain grainy shade
throughout the movie, which fits for the time period perfectly as the picture
looks quite retro.
Ben Affleck, as both lead actor and
director, clearly knew when to make the camera work apparent, and when to back
off as to let the acting take over a scene. His overall vision for the film was
spectacular with virtually no flaws. I was glad to find that this movie was not
a political statement, but actually an accurate account of the events that
occurred in 1980. At the end of the film, there is a sequence where all the
actual events are documented so the audience can know how this story is still relevant
today. Complete with a classic cast, strong dialogue, and driving suspense,
this film is not one to be missed.
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