The Best Bad Idea They Had

"Argo"
Written by Chris Terrio

Directed by Ben Affleck

Starring Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Alan Arkin

Rated R

120 Minutes

Here is another example of a great film whose director is only on his third feature.  Following Rian Johnson’s “Looper,” Ben Affleck emerges with “Argo,” almost certainly a contender for best picture, and surprisingly, one that doesn’t feel like obvious Oscar bait.  That Affleck pulls double duty here by starring is also impressive; this feels like a man in his element and the result is one of the best pictures so far this year. 

Ben Affleck has always been an actor with considerable skill, but since he has stepped behind the camera, first with “Gone Baby Gone” and “The Town” and now with “Argo,” he has proven himself a master talent.  “Argo” also proves that he excels at material that isn’t set in his hometown of Boston and I wouldn’t be surprised if this puts him in extremely high demand for directing any number of features for Warner Brothers.  One of the pleasures of “Argo” is its simplicity; it takes a historical event, sidesteps any complicated political mumbo jumbo, and tells a thrilling and suspenseful story that is easy to understand.

The backdrop for the story is the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979; after America takes custody of an Iranian war criminal, the U.S. Embassy in Tehran is stormed and 50 plus people are taken hostage.  Six Americans escape out a back door and take refuge in the Canadian Ambassador’s (Victor Garber) home.  After 69 days of Iranian troops going door to door looking for Americans, the CIA decides it's time to get them out.  Bryan Cranston plays a CIA bigwig named Jack O’Donnell, who enlists the “exfiltration specialist” expertise of Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck).  Mendez shoots down the CIA’s bright ideas for rescuing them in favor of a far more absurd one; pretend he’s a big-shot Canadian movie producer who flies into Iran scouting for exotic movie locations while the hostages stand in as his Canadian film crew.  Then they’ll all fly out together with Hollywood-issued cover IDs. 

The film’s first act echoes the zaniness of this idea with a screenplay that is refreshingly snappy and relevant.  John Goodman plays make-up legend John Chambers, who takes Mendez to meet Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin), the only producer crazy enough to go for their idea.  “If I’m making a fake movie, it’s gonna be a fake hit” he gleefully states.  They spend some time cooking up an entire paper trail and budget for a bottom-shelf sci-fi movie called “Argo” and try to get the Government to go along with it.  The CIA shows reluctance to the concept but Mendez rightfully asserts that there isn’t a single believable reason for six Canadians to be in Iran during a hostage crisis.  In one scene, Phillip Baker Hall shows up to question the bad idea.  “We only have bad ideas,” Mendez tells him.

What makes “Argo” so compelling is that there isn’t a single scene that feels wasted.  Affleck assuredly balances what is essentially a talky espionage feature with enough tension to make the final act hold you in constant suspense.  Of course the cockamamie scheme worked, history tells us that.  But this will be the first time that many are introduced to the story, and I think Affleck knows that.  The bulk of the narrative is mostly free of action, but the pacing is spot-on and tension comes from brilliant editing that cross-cuts to different locations to show us that the events in one place vitally depend on the events in another.

If “Argo” has a shortcoming, it’s that the six hostages don’t feel fully fleshed-out as characters.  But they are essentially learning new identities within the film so this may be intentional.  In any case, “Argo” is more concerned with the situation and circumstances and provides a wonderful cinematic experience in that regard.  The absurdity of the plot engagingly reflects the realization that this idea actually worked.  It kind of makes me curious what Iran thinks about the movie.  Maybe they won’t allow it in their theatres for fear of embarrassment.  One thing is for sure; they won’t be letting movie crews over for location scouting anytime soon.