‘If I’m going to make a fake movie, it’s going to be a fake hit.’

Am I watching the same film as everyone else?

The story is set in the late 1970s, amid a volatile Iranian revolution due to British and American interference. The US embassy is overthrown and 6 Americans are able to escape. The film is essentially how the US government launched a cover story to extract the escapees from Iran.

For starters, the fact the film is based on real events makes it immediately enthralling. But once you begin to realise that the key word in that statement is ‘based’, the film becomes less plausible. There are certain scenes towards the end which clearly embellished the truth: in true American-film style, the Iranians are racing down the runway in an attempt to stop the aeroplane. It could have been taken straight from Skyfall. Affleck has later admitted that parts were added and modified to make it more entertaining. Firstly, the British embassy did hold the refugees for several days, whereas in the film, it is stated they are turned away by the UK. Also, the film insinuates that the Canadians took credit for the operation, although the US did all the work: Jimmy Carter, former president of the time, states that in actual fact ’90 percent of the contribution to the ideas and consummation of the plan was Canadian.’ The film fails to mention this.

The actors used for the 6 escapists look remarkably similar to the actual Americans. Towards the end, there is a comparison shown between all the main protagonists and the real people and the similarities are uncanny. Credit to the casting department. On the other hand, Ben Affleck gives a dreary performance which bores the audience. I am a huge fan of Good Will Hunting, but in this he plays a depressed CIA agent who looks as happy as a kid getting socks at Christmas.

Overall, this film is distinctively average. An interesting plot, filled with exaggerations and scenes straight from an action film. Affleck does a good job directing, but looks near-suicidal throughout the film. At times very tense, but so far from the truth, Argo becomes just another action film.

43/100

Jack

20/3/13