Argo

Yesterday we saw Argo, and I have to tell you about it.

Argo is a film about the Iran Hostage Crisis which occurred between 1979 and 1981. After Ayatollah Khomeini came into power and the Shah of Iran was deposed, the US gave the former Shah safe haven. The shaw had been wildly unpopular because he was essentially a puppet for the US and Great Britain, allowing them control of Iranian oil. He was also responsible for the "westernization" of Iran, a move that outraged traditional Shi'a muslims. Under the Ayatollah, Iran transformed from a monarchy--which it had been for centuries--to a theocracy.

On November 4, 1979 a group of hundreds of Iranian students stormed the US Embassy compound. Their intention was to voice their objections to US and Soviet policies, and hold the embassy for a few days. The siege, however, got out of hand. Some 60 diplomats were taken prisoner inside the embassy. Six of them escaped through a back exit and took refuge--secretly--in the home of the Canadian ambassador.

Argo is the story of the audacious rescue of those six people, devised and carried out by CIA agent Tony Mendez in cooperation with the Canadian government. Mendez planned to enter Iran under the cover of a fake science fiction film looking for a location. The six trapped Americans would be smuggled out disguised as a Canadian film crew. Everything about the fake film had to be real enough to stand up to the highest scrutiny.

There are many, many things to like about Argo. The first of which being the sensible and fair treatment of Iran in the film. They seems like an odd thing to say, since the film wouldn't exist without Iran-as-badguy. However, the film makes clear that all people caught up in these kinds of situations go nuts--American, Iranian, or otherwise--and that there are good and bad people in any group. This isn't something you usually get in films where it's the US against a foreign country (just talk to every Russian or Chinese person ever depicted in a movie, ever). Time, more than anything else, is the enemy in this film.

Because of this sense of urgency, the film has a tense, fast-paced plot. The costumes and settings are flawless (at least from the point of view of someone who wasn't born yet at the time and has never been to Iran). The characters are interesting. Best of all, the movie cuts tension with humor, resulting in a film that seems really "human," well-rounded, and eminently watchable.

It's nice to see Ben Affleck do something more Good Will Hunting and less Surviving Christmas (remember that? Yeah, neither does anyone else). I would not be remotely surprised if this film earns him another Oscar.

The cast is strong: John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad!), Clea DuVall, Rory Cochrane (Empire Records, remember?)... And Ben Affleck actually looks like he's playing someone other than himself. (Much love for the 70's beard.)

When I say this film is tense, I'm really not kidding. I had my feet up on my seat and my hands over my mouth for most of it. And it is the only movie I've ever been to where the whole audience applauded in the middle of the film.

Movies like this make our decision to try for the Foreign Service seem a little crazy, but they also remind me why Tim wants to go in the first place. There has to be diplomacy in this world.

PS. I have no idea why I don't post more movie reviews. I'm sort of obsessed with going to the movies.