Argo Preview

Argo is the name of the 1980 science fiction movie set in Iran with a storyline and feel similar to Star Wars.  The film was never made . . . and they never intended to make it either.  During the Iran hostage crisis, six Americans were able to get free and found asylum in the home of Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor (Victor Garber).  When the CIA ordered that they be rescued and brought home, it was up to CIA exfiltration expert Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) to figure out a way to do just that. Argo was his elaborate plan: a Canadian movie set in Iran.  Mendez posed as one of the film's producers, the CIA set up a fake Canadian film studio and sent out press releases advertising the movie, even members of Hollywood's film industry were brought in to bring legitimacy to the film that was never going to be made.  Based on true events, the plan was to get their phony film crew into Iran, make contact with the six refugees, and sneak them out of the country as part of their film crew.

The preview shows an almost unbelievable story told by an amazing cast.  Directed by and starring Ben Affleck, Argo looks to be intriguing, entertaining, and a nail-biting story of epic heroism. Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston, and John Goodman lend their talents to the film and seem to be in top form. In 2010, Ben Affleck's last project in Directing and Acting, The Town, earned an Oscar nomination for Supporting Actor Jeremy Renner and an AFI award win for movie of the year.  Argo has been nominated for seven Oscars including Best Picture of the Year and Best Supporting Actor for Alan Arkin.  Is this the year Affleck takes home the trophy? He's certainly up against some stiff competition.  Judging from the preview, this movie will earn those nominations, though I'm not so sure about actually winning them when you look at the other films and actors who were also nominated.  I'm predicting a 4 star experience overall that is worth the price of admission and might make it to my home collection.  Am I right?  We shall see.