We actually watched this year's Best Picture Oscar Winner last month but then two of us went to go see it again and one of us got to see it for the first time so I figured we could still do a review on it for those who have not seen it yet!
Barbara Says:
This well made movie deserved the Oscar. Coming from one who remembers when the subject of this movie was headline news I can tell you we were concerned on a daily basis about these people. Now today so many years later to learn the minute details of what happen(of course with Hollywood flare)is somehow a relief to those who went through it. To those new to the story or knew very little, it is a seat clutching,nail biting movie. But must admit I did some of that too. Even when I knew how it ended. This movie is well worth anyone`s time to go see. You will remember it long after.
Cat Says:
I have to start out by saying that this was one of my favorite movies that came out this past year. Very few got a really high score for me but Lincoln and this one beat them all.
As mentioned, this is based on a very real story that happened in 1979. I was in high school in 1979 and we all were waiting to see what would happen with the hostage situation over there. It was our first encounter with the Middle East and definitely not a good one. For many of us it was our first time encountering politics as well. We were able to see that no matter what the regime there is going to be some very bad people who end up in the place of power. In the years that followed I talked to many who were there for the Shah and for the Ayatollah and neither regime was good for the people of that nation.
This film covers that change over graphically. You see the political unrest. You feel the emotions of those who felt they were caught in the middle and those who just wanted to get away from it all. You see just how violent these people were when they did attack. It's hard, at times, to wrap your head around the type of people who would leave hanging corpses out for all to see. And, yes, I reference a not-so-wonderful part of our own American history when I say that too.
But what makes this movie truly wonderful is that it's told with a great amount of humor. Even in the most stressful of times we, as humans, use humor to let off a bit of the steam that builds up in such a serious situation. This humor is what helps make this film feel "real". It makes the characters three dimensional and not just actors up on the screen.
From the siege to the CIA agent that Ben Affleck plays to perfection to the movie producers to the escape, you are on the edge of your seat. Even though you are aware that everyone makes it back home safely you are still tense and have to keep assuring yourself that they all are safe.
Amazing writing, acting and directing is what earned this film the Oscar. It is much deserved. Ben Affleck has become an incredible director and should have won an Oscar for this. I'm glad he did walk away with the Golden Globe. He deserves it. We will own this film before the year is out.
I give it a 9.5 out of 10...yup, it's that good.
Tory Says:
Most of the time when they “re-tell” a story on film, they mess it up. This was NOT the case with Argo. I read an article a few days after seeing it that said apart from the very end (where they make it more suspenseful to draw the audience in and make them feel how the real people must have felt at the end of their journey) everything else was incredibly well done. Now this article wasn’t from Hollywood or a producer, it was an interview with the real Tony Mendez and his wife. I feel that when the real person says “That’s what really happened. Good job to the cast and director!” then they should get our vote as well! Here is the thing: I wasn’t even born when all of this really happened and my husband was about 2 when it happened so this was pretty much a new story to both of us. (We’d heard about it in passing but that’s about it.)The film follows Tony Mendez, an expert with exfiltration from the CIA who gets the job of trying to get 6 Americans out of Iran after the Embassy is attacked. The Americans get away safely to the Canadian Ambassador’s house but they still need to get home. Mendez comes up with the idea going over there to make a pretend Canadian movie and these 6 people are the film crew and director. Ben Affleck is not only one of my favorite actors (since I was 8!) but also turning out to be quite a phenomenal director as well. He even shot the film on actual film and then blew it up 200x so that he got the extra 1970-80’s grainy effect! So you really feel like you are watching a movie from that time! Although you know what happens, you still find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat and empathizing with these characters (or in this case, real people!) However, although my husband and I loved this movie…this is a date night movie or one to see with friends. I don’t feel it is appropriate for children under say about 16 and I also don’t think they would understand all of it. Language is a factor: The catch phrase in the movie is “Argo-f*** yourself”…hilarious because it is used correctly but not exactly something you want your kid running around saying. I do feel it deserves every nomination and win from the Academy. I feel for Ben Affleck getting snubbed at the Oscars because he really did deserve a nomination and win for Director! Final score? 9 out of 10. I can’t wait to own this one!!
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