Director: Ben Affleck
Screenwriter(s): Chris Terrio
Based on: “The Master of Disguise” by Antonio J. Mendez and “The Great Escape”, a Wired Magazine article
Cast: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Victor Garber, Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Christopher Denham, Scoot McNairy, Kerry Bishe, Rory Cochrane, Kyle Chandler
Plot: During the Iranian Revolution in 1980, a CIA agent, Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) convinces a Hollywood producer to produce a fake science fiction film allowing him to help six Americans escape from Iran after revolutionaries attack the U.S. embassy.
Mini Review: Director Ben Affleck and Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto shove us into the action of a film that has a very retro feel. Although it’s predictable and provides situations that are too convenient at times, the story structure is solid and we are put right at the heart of the Iranian uproar to make us as uncomfortable and tense as possible. Alan Arkin provides a bulk of the comic relief while Bryan Cranston kicks us back into gear when things start to go very sour. ‘Argo’ is a thrilling look into our history and another (honorary) directing triumph for Affleck. Jim’s Rating: 8.5/10
***BEYOND THIS POINT IS CLASSIFIED INFORMATION…UNLESS YOU’VE SEEN ‘ARGO’***
Random Trivia: In order to make the movie feel like the 1970s, Ben Affleck shot it on regular film, cut the frames in half, and blew those images up 200% to increase their graininess. He also copied camera movements and bustling office scenes from ‘All the President’s Men’ (1976) for sequences depicting CIA headquarters; for L.A. exteriors, he borrowed from ‘The Killing of a Chinese Bookie’ (1976).
The Real Story behind ‘Argo’ (22:34)
SAG Foundation Backstage, Conversation with ‘Argo’ – Bryan Cranston, Ben Affleck, and Alan Arkin (36:25)
…and now for something a little different…
Oscar-Winning Factors: Screenplay, Cinematography, Acting
Screenplay/Cinematography
We are given a little history lesson and then shoved right into the incident.
Screenplay
A briefing is held to determine how to get the Americans out of Iran.
Writer Chris Terrio not only provides us with more conflict, but further insight into what must be done in order for the operation to succeed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adEqrsCXvwE
Cinematography
Tony prepares the six escapees for possible interrogation by the Iranians.
Acting (Alan Arkin)
Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) finds the screenplay that will work with their objective. Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin), a famous Hollywood producer, meets with a studio executive, to get the screenplay optioned.
http://youtu.be/M-UNR3wypGY?t=5s
Unless the President approves the plane tickets for the six Americans and Tony Mendez, the CIA can’t do anything to help them out of Iran. Wanting to get them out, Jack O’Donnell does everything he can to make sure that those seven get out of Iran safely.
Nominations & Wins:
- Original Screenplay (W) – Chris Terrio
- Achievement in Film Editing (W) – William Goldenberg
- Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (N) – Alan Arkin
- Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score (N) – Alexandre Desplat
- Achievement in Sound Mixing (N) – John T. Reitz, Gregg Rudloff, Jose Antonio Garcia
- Achievement in Sound Editing (N) – Erik Aadahl, Ethan Van der Ryn