User Reviews

Some tropes and historical inaccuracies would be my biggest nitpicks. Ie ben as a rouge agent and the tarmac chase scene seemed completely implausible / uneccessary and inserted for drama. I understand that this is a dramatization but this just took me out of it and is my biggest gripe. People say it is jingoist and didn’t give the Canadians enough credit and I would disagree. The Canadians still did come off as taking great risk and acknowledged for the legwork and logistics they had to do. The movie centered around the two days for extraction and planning for it which was mainly done by the CIA. Overall a great film with tense stakes that had me glued to the screen. That being said, it isn’t anything mind blowing or revolutionary.

A fascinating mix of alternate history, political thriller, and ironic comedy. Lots of close-ups for some reason. Never dull and never typical. Worthy of the hype.

J’en attendais pas grand-chose ou presque rien pour ainsi dire… Pensez donc : un film de Ben Affleck le tocard avec Ben Affleck le tocard ! Certes, le sujet tiré d’une histoire vraie se prête idéalement à une adaptation cinématographique, car la réalité y dépasse la fiction et de loin… mais tout de même ! En tout cas, quand on pense à ce calvaire vécu par ces otages dans un pays de fanatiques intégristes qui constitue encore aujourd’hui une menace pour la sécurité du monde libre, on n’en revient pas… quelle bande de cinglés ! Argo retranscrit cette tension permanente et croissante avec soin et une habileté certaine. C’est très bien mené, les acteurs sont convaincants (sauf Ben l’affligeant évidemment encore trop… tocard…) et on ne s’ennuie pas une seconde. Contre toute attente un film étonnamment brillant donc, assez sobre et bien fichu malgré une emphase patriotico-américaine assez marquée (comme souvent à Hollywood, certes !).

Ben Affleck's latest dash of Oscar bait effectively combines the tension, drama and political tripwires of the Iranian hostage crisis without feeling overly dense or inaccessible. An impressive, authentic catalog of '70s wardrobe and scenery is partially to thank, with bad hair and cigarette smoke billowing about with liberty, and that goes a long ways toward immersing the audience in this era. The abundance of distinct, colorful characters and speedy editing, though, are what I found most appreciable. At times, Argo almost feels like one long montage, with a short attention span and lots of quick cuts, but its nose for pertinent info and several key performances from the cast add enough substance to round everything out. Although Affleck's grim, game-faced leading character is often subdued to a fault, his Hollywood contacts (Alan Arkin and John Goodman), Washington supervisor (Bryan Cranston) and scared-stiff American refugees make up for those inadequacies with vigor. Alternatively funny, adventurous, powerful and intense, it's a melting pot of emotion with a hectic, exhilarating third act.

A competently made espionage thriller based on interesting real world events but Argo never quite manages to be gripping enough to match the best the genre has to offer.

Just a great movie. The ending has added events for dramatic effect, but still, the rescue plan and the escape really happened. Agent Mendez and the Canadians were true HERO's!

Excellent movie. The story is so enjoyable, scoring is really great, visual is decent, and the voice is stunning

ben affleck imzalı mahsur kalmış elçileri kurtarma operasyonunu anlatan sürükleyici filmdir.

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It was an amazing and intense ride. The only thing I knew about Argo was that it won the Oscar for Best Picture, I didn't expected this incredible film.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Argo is a triumph of suspense, bringing the defining moment of the 1970s to the silver screen in spectacular fashion.

Argo es una película tensa, emocionante y muy entretenida; la trama es épica y los actores son muy buenos; la recomiendo muchísimo.

Ben Affleck's best work as either an actor or director. A taut, tense thriller that takes some liberties from it's true life story but is thoroughly entertaining.

Oscar bait and crowdpleasing, good movie though. Really good script and decent acting. Ar-go f*** yourself!

Argo is the overrated film of the decade. People just thing it's great cuz of the last scene. It's a boring, tedious and overlong film with bad editing (according to me) and low-stake action sequences that provide little suspense or tension. It seemed extremely slow-paced and boring throughout. It does have few good elements here and there and is quite a technically sound film, but really that's it. I can't believe this film won any oscars, let alone best picture and best screenplay. Argo is an overrated film and nowhere near the other films nominated in the best picture category in 2012.

While I enjoyed this, it wasn't gripping. If anything, it made a pretty good background movie. I've seen this sort of rescue/hostage plot done better before.

Pretty epic movie. I liked it. Great acting. Nail-biting. Well done Ben Affleck

Based on the article 'The Great Escape' by journalist Joshuah Bearman and the book 'The Master of Disguise' by former CIA agent Tony Mendez, that describes how he (with precious help), in 1980, managed to perform a very risky exfiltration of 6 american diplomats from Tehran during Iran's historic hostage crisis. PROS: Ben Affleck at his best and most inspired, both as the director and as the leading actor; never loses focus from the protagonist and the 6 people he's trying to save; thrilling and suspenseful from the first minute until the last. CONS: simplified backstory and context, without any Iranian perspective, that fails to explain what lead to the hostage crisis in the first place; it doesn't exactly give a positive image of the CIA or the US government, but gives an overly negative image of the Iranian revolutionaries, who are portrayed as both evil and inept. "Jon ****: Great, so we’ll take in any **** as long as he’s got cancer? Hamilton Jordan (President’s Chief of Staff): No, just the **** on our side. So all our other **** on their **** thrones know when they get thrown out on a rail they won’t get their **** spleens taken out by some camel vet in Sinai.” “Jack O'Donnell: Carter’s **** enough bricks to build the pyramids.” “Lester Siegel: We did suicide missions in the army that had better odds than this.”

Great realistic thriller with Ben Affleck in the lead role. Pleased with the realism of the script.

I must be coming from a odd angle when I say that the movie was a job well done and it can be expected to be historical inaccurate. Distorting the truth is the bread and butter in Hollywood, especially when it is Hollywood that gets the limelight. I know.. it gets me at times too, especially when the subject is close to heart. The Canadian Caper isn't so I didn't care much one way or another, other then that, when reading about it, I thought that the filmmakers could have been more respectful towards other people, be it the Canadians or Iranians. So we can put Argo safely amongst Braveheart, The Patriot, Pearl Harbor, The Untouchables, The Highway Men, Inglorious Basterds, Saving Private Ryan and The Bridge of the River Kwai and a slew of other movies that base themselves on some kind of real occurrence. But hold on. Some of these movies are actually quite entertaining(and well acted). And there you go: Argo isn't entertaining. If Argo twisted the truth to make it more engaging then it failed to achieve that goal. Compare Alan Arkin, who is praised for his cliché performance in Argo, with, say, a stellar performance by Alec Guinness. Or compare the bland cast of Argo to say, the cast from Saving Private Ryan? Or for that matter, to All the president's men or The Untouchables? Care to remember who they were? You forgot them right. Why would you care for people you forgot about the moment they leave the screen. And this is possibly the ironical failure of movies like Argo. They take some kind of real event, twist the events, and utterly fail to either be true to the truth or leave a lasting impression. Why not just make the whole thing up but at make a good movie? You know... like Citizen Kane.

I was meaning to watch this movie for the last few years, but just never had the motivation to watch. tonight, it popped up on TV and I have to say I was impressed. Excellent movie. Great pacing, acting. The use of news clips from the period added to the overall atmosphere. Ben Affleck did a great job on directing and delivered a wonderful movie.

This movie is fantastic. A quick google search will give away the ending of this based on true story movie but it still has you on the edge of your seat.

With a fantastic direction and brilliant performances, "Argo" is a tense and nail-biting thriller that proves Ben Affleck is one of the greatest working directors to date.

When Hollywood decides to make a movie based on true historical facts I personally am immediately afraid of the result. This fear is based on the overwhelming ability of writers and directors to manipulate facts and subvert them in the name of art, dramatic effect and box office. Thus, there are many films allegedly based on "true historical facts" that have little relation to them, however profitable or spectacular they may be. Unfortunately, "Argo" is one more that will join this long list of infamy. To begin, the deposed Shah of Iran is portrayed as an eccentric and bloodthirsty dictator. Its not entirely true: he certainly had his faults and mistakes, but he was a modern leader with a pro-Western vision of his country, who sought to reform Iranian politics and society, redistribute land, grant political rights to women (he even abolished the compulsory use of the Islamic veil) and solidify its rising democracy. It was these king of changes that led to his deposition, by conservative factions based on a strongly old-fashioned clergy that controls the country until our days. I also discovered that the rescue operation pictured was actually a joint effort of countries led by Canadian agents, not just an American operation made with the consent of Canada. The CIA only helped. Given these data, its easy to see that, under the traditional excuse "hey, we're changing some things for dramatic purposes", the film actually rewrites history, totally distorting the facts on which it is based. Cinema can adapt, change things or add others, but it must respect true. Going to the point of distorting the truth is always wrong. From an exclusively technical point of view, putting aside the story and the script, it's a very good movie, well done and enjoyable. Ben Affleck plays the lead role and gives the audience a restrained, serious and consistent performance. The re-creation of the old siege scenes at the American embassy was also very well done, though it only serves to accentuate the wrong idea that the film tells a true story. The costumes and scenery are excellent and the soundtrack fulfills its role satisfactorily.

Argo is exactly what you want out of movie based on an historical event. It's both exciting and factual. The film is about how CIA got 6 people out of Iran during the hostage crises while posing as film crew. The movie centers around CIA operative Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) who enlists the help of Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) and John Chambers (John Goodman) to make a fake movie called Argo in order to get the 6 Americans out of Iran. Ben Affleck does an amazing job playing Tony Mendez. Alan Arkin and John Goodman are are both hilarious in there respective roles. The movie doesn't change much of the original story, it jut adds some scenes for dramatic effect witch works well. In conclusion if your looking for a good movie based off an historical event than this is the movie for you.

I saw the extended version and I enjoyed this film. It was bit slow but well directed and kept me watching for the full 2+ hours, with full interest. Not something long films can easily do. I also liked the story and the slow building suspense till the end.

Exciting ransom thriller based on true life events. The history of how the production of a movie that never existed developed the most daring rescue plan; the climax sequence is nail-bitting. One of best jobs of actor-director Ben Affleck, the photography job of Rodrigo Prieto is outstanding.

Okay. The acting is superb and the story is amazing, especially being based on true events. Whats the problem then? I think its too overrated. Too patriotic and i really expected more from the ending! Overall it's a great story that i think a lot of people should know, but i'm not sure if its worth a 2 hour movie and 3 academy awards. My advice - watch it once if you have plenty of free time. If not (like you're having a vacation and you're looking for a good movie) don't trust the "oscars"- you better look for something else.

WHAT I LIKED: We knew by this point that Ben Affleck can both act and direct to an incredible standard, but he still manages to surprise us with every great turn he makes. This time, he pulled out all the stops and as a result 'Argo' is one of the most inventively put together and well directed films of 2012 (and that's saying something by the way). He really grips you through each creative montage and scene change; it actually feels like the events are unfolding before your very eyes at points, and this journey is often aided by the contrasting performances and tones that the movie straddles. Somehow it's incredibly engaging and exciting, whilst also scarcastically mocking and entertaining at times... WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: As I said, manier contrast this film doth straddle - and whilst it mostly gels, it occasionaly doesn't. I feel the tonal confusion that this creates is mainly apparent in the lengthly set-up, but at least it's diminished by the end. VERDICT: What's most apparent is just how well-made Argo is, but that doesn't stop you from properly engaging and having a great time with it. Well done again Mr Affleck, you've outdone yourself.

Docudramas often do not lend themselves naturally to action or suspense without omitting mundane detail or using editing to build suspense where no immediate jeopardy actually existed. Argo, Ben Affleck's recreation of the escape of 6 embassy workers from Iran in 1980 is guilty on all counts. Unlike a similar period pic, Zodiac - Argo doesn't capture the feeling of the time, it seems more like a department store window display. Oddly enough, the copious inclusion of all the skiffy kitch from the era works against this film. Affleck does gets strong, workmanlike performances from a cast that uncannily resembles their real life counterparts, but unfortunately he cannot string those scenes together into a cohesive narrative. That in itself is forgivable, but one cannot help but feel that the three key action sequences were given the Hollywood treatment to turn a story more akin to Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy into The Great Escape. Affleck's greatest sin is giving Iranian automobiles nitrus oxide turbocharged engines to keep pace with a Swiss Air 747. One can almost hear the strains of John Barry's Bond theme in the background. Argo isn't a bad movie, nor is it a great one. It is worth the animated history lesson of British and American Cold War meddling in Iran's politics at the beginning of the film. Not worth a full price ticket, but worth afternoon matinee price or pay per view in a month or so.

" Argo " was a film that had an impressive thematic although I felt very slow film , Ben Affleck or say " Benji " as an actor to his inicos are disastrous but gradually gained ground , and as a director is one of the best who brought movies very good caliber , and " Argo " is no exception.

Argo makes lasting events look real even though everything in the movie was all part of the act. No wonder I can't even manage to get past through the scenes in Argo without having common sense.

Argo is a film that was directed, starred, and produced by Ben Affleck and he surprisingly did an amazing job. The way this film is crafted is incredibly realistic. It was an intense historically accurate film that I enjoyed very much. This film can teach you a lot about Iran in your tenth grade Global, Social Studies class. Rating: 9/10 A+ = 10 A = 9 A- = 8 B+ = 7 B = 6 B- = 5 C+ = 4 C = 3 C- = 2.5 D+ = 2 D = 1.5 D- = 1 F = 0

''Masterpiece''....I was stunned when I watched this sir ben Affleck makes another great film I thought that it was awesome how they cant get out of iran and the Canadians saved there lives it just goes to show u us Canadians are great people

Based on real events, this movie is about an agent going in to extract six Americans who are trapped in Iran. Their only way out is to pretend they were looking for locations for a Star Wars rip off called "Argo." Most of the movie felt realistic and the acting was well done. The story may sound boring to some but I'd still encourage those people to watch it because it's actually quite interesting.

I can barely believe how good this movie is. It may not be necessarily perfect, but it's got so many great things going on. The acting is impeccable, the direction is great... but the standout is definitely the plot, the story. It's got such suspense and it's so entertaining that you soon forget the notion that "Argo" may sound like a boring film. Quite the opposite actually.

The only thing good about Argo is the fact that its based on a true story, but it obviously does not stop the fact that Ben Affleck is a bad actor and that Arabians speaking frantically is extremely annoying. This movie is great if you can get past Ben Afflecks acting and annoying Arabians acting like imbeciles. To keep it short and sweet like everyone should on this site, if you don't care for the true story don't watch it. If you do watch it, watch it. Then stop watching it and turn on something worth watching.

Argo is the film that made me think why are people worried that Ben Affleck is playing batman because this film is beyond brilliant. i loved every second of it's amazing true plot, great acting from a all star cast ( special mention to john goodman, Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston and Scoot McNairy) and one of the most suspenseful endings i've seen. for once my pick for best picture at the oscars has actually won

Argo has great direction and acting, and builds up a thrilling and convincing piece of history. Despite accusations of inaccuracy and nationalism (even though the film only focuses on one small, isolated group of people undergoing a minor operation), this is still a very intense and gripping story that shouldn't be passed up.

Smart, tense and well directed, "Argo" succeeds not just as a great movie but as a realistic political thriller that keeps audience entertained for 2 hours.

As neither an American nor a Canadian citizen, I get to watch this movie for what it is: a movie. If we consider it a crime film, it doesn't have a twisted enough plot. If we consider it a thriller, there's not enough tension. If we consider it a documentary, it's not true enough. Where are the laughs the critics are talking about? When are supposed to laugh? If we consider it a comedy, it doesn't make you laugh enough. I understand it's a celebration of the American intelligence and it is intelligently released in a period where pretty much all of the Western World looks at Arabic countries with suspicion. I didn't know anything about the Canadian Caper and honestly, this film didn't make me curious about it. Ben Affleck was in 2012, so that meant no facial expressions, and I get it. He did the same in To The Wonder. A notable yet tiny performance by Cranston is worth mentioning, the rest of the cast were blank pawns. The score, despite being Alexandre Desplat and all, I found irritating. Not a bad movie, but not a great one either. It certainly doesn't deserve that 86. The political gets too much in the way to judge Argo without prejudice.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Argo balances suspense with fun and entertainment very well despite its slow pace. Although it falls short of Oscar winning expectations, it's old-school feel and tension escalates it from falling flat.

Affleck has directed and crafted one of the best films of not only this year, but of his entire career. This film manages to take a true story and turn it into a masterpiece.

Argo is the Academy Award Winner for Best Picture of 2012, and while it was an amazing film, the actual story was far less interesting. In 1980, the tensions between Iran and The United States began, and the U.S. embassy in Tehran was overrun. Hundreds were held hostage for over a year, but six did manage to escape and went into hiding. Knowing that their lives were even more in danger than those of the hostages, the C.I.A. developed a unique plan to get them out of Iran. They sent in one of their top agents, with credentials claiming that he was part of a Canadian film crew. Armed with fake documents, he would smuggled the six out of the country. The film was intense and featured one close call after another, but in reality, getting them out was almost too easy. They were never stopped or questioned, and slipped out under the cover of early morning, without a hitch, but what kind of a movie would that be? Once these classified files were released by the U.S. Government, Hollywood saw the chance to tell this story in an extreme manor, and did so much to the delight of audiences and much to the chagrin of the other countries involved. Ben Affleck both stars and directs this film, and while everyone raves about his performance, I thought it was typically cold and flat. Ben Affleck wasn't interesting, the character he played was. Affleck wasn't any more likeable or skillful here than he was in any other role and that's why he didn't win best actor. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the man is a fantastic Director, but a very mediocre actor. That being said, the extreme locations and huge cast, were his biggest challenge to date as a Director, and I was very impressed by the way he managed to pull it off. Argo is based on a true story, it's fast paced, and even though we all know what happened before seeing the film, it's still an edge of your seat thriller that really shouldn't be missed.

Argo is an good slow-growth film that caps with a fantastically tense ending. If you can stand a slower movie without things constantly exploding for you then you should absolutely see this movie.

This is a well done film by Ben Affleck who gives sharp direction and acting to this movie. It's triumphant and thrilling. Great performances from Affleck, Cranston, Alda, Goodman and the supporting cast

Interesting start Then comes abrupt stall somewhere between Hollywood and BBC So many usual hardships like divorced hero with a Son in shared custody far far away People do strange thing under duress but I am sure it wasn't like n this movie when embassy opens its doors because some officer wanted to reason with hostagetakers Couldn't bear it 4 only

Cuando empece a verla en un principio me convenció, pero conforme avanza la historia se vuelve muy comercial con muchos tintes patrióticos, la verdad no sentí que los personajes estuvieran en un verdadero peligro, rescato los últimos minutos cuando están a punto de subir del avión, en donde agarra tensión, pero eso nada mas, ni la trama socio-política es muy buena, eso si tiene un buen montaje.