How Sci-Fi Attempted to Save 6 American Fugitives in 1979 Iran
Argo
is based on the 1980 joint CIA-Canadian mission to extract 6 American diplomatic fugitives out of revolutionary Iran. The CIA-agent Tony Mendez comes up with a crazy Hollywood-production cover
to do the deed. I'd like to emphasize the fact that it is 'based on' this historical fact. Despite Argo's success and spectacular production/direction, the movie has been criticized for inaccuracies. People tend to forget that a movie is still a work of fiction even if based on History. As a director, it is obviously hard to stick to the factual truth without taking sides. Even if you tell a pretty objective story, you can never perfectly underscore each detail of what really happened. Otherwise, historical feature-films would be 10-hour long. Considering all of the above, I would put Ben Affleck on my personal long list of majestic directors. He really did surprise me in a good way. I am no History teacher so I have no idea how wrong or right he was about the facts. I'm just a movie-lover. In my life-long experience of enjoying big-screen entertainment, I believe that if what you watch is moving, funny and suspenseful, then the movie crew's job is done. You obviously don't choose such a topic randomly. Affleck has a message to state. I think he succeeded in staying away from the usual US-Greatness too often displayed in Hollywood. Proof is that nobody in CIA supports Tony Mendez' pitch at first. The archive footage used in the film is well-inset. It's an undoubted ancknowledgment and appreciation of Canada's role in the mission. And what a cast! Clea DuVall, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Rory Cochrane... It's really worth every penny. Despite the war context, Argo is still impressively funny. It's more of a spy movie than a war movie. Which, in my opinion, is much better. The depiction of the movie industry and the US-government is accurate and sincere. Ben Affleck does not soft-soap anyone in his feature-film.
is based on the 1980 joint CIA-Canadian mission to extract 6 American diplomatic fugitives out of revolutionary Iran. The CIA-agent Tony Mendez comes up with a crazy Hollywood-production cover
to do the deed. I'd like to emphasize the fact that it is 'based on' this historical fact. Despite Argo's success and spectacular production/direction, the movie has been criticized for inaccuracies. People tend to forget that a movie is still a work of fiction even if based on History. As a director, it is obviously hard to stick to the factual truth without taking sides. Even if you tell a pretty objective story, you can never perfectly underscore each detail of what really happened. Otherwise, historical feature-films would be 10-hour long. Considering all of the above, I would put Ben Affleck on my personal long list of majestic directors. He really did surprise me in a good way. I am no History teacher so I have no idea how wrong or right he was about the facts. I'm just a movie-lover. In my life-long experience of enjoying big-screen entertainment, I believe that if what you watch is moving, funny and suspenseful, then the movie crew's job is done. You obviously don't choose such a topic randomly. Affleck has a message to state. I think he succeeded in staying away from the usual US-Greatness too often displayed in Hollywood. Proof is that nobody in CIA supports Tony Mendez' pitch at first. The archive footage used in the film is well-inset. It's an undoubted ancknowledgment and appreciation of Canada's role in the mission. And what a cast! Clea DuVall, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Rory Cochrane... It's really worth every penny. Despite the war context, Argo is still impressively funny. It's more of a spy movie than a war movie. Which, in my opinion, is much better. The depiction of the movie industry and the US-government is accurate and sincere. Ben Affleck does not soft-soap anyone in his feature-film.
is the Oscar-winning cake you get when you mix the following ingredients: Harvey Weinstein's production skills, David O. Russell's directing technique, and a terrific multi-generational cast (from Robert De Niro to the thrilling comeback of Chris Tucker). Today being the US-release of the DVD, I had to celebrate by reviewing this universally acclaimed movie. This story adapted from 
has already helped and will help so many misfits. Unlike most of the audience, I don't think the characters portrayed in this movie are nuts. I found a lot of myself in both Pat (Bradley Cooper) and Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) who have just been damaged by life. SLP is a simple story about families and the constant struggle it is to maintain relationships. O. Russell focuses on many kinds of relationships. From parenting to friendship, love, or sibling tension: whatever your problem is, you will find an answer in SLP. I adore the O. Russell technique that reveals his actors' talent. The movie was nominated in all 4 acting categories at the Academy Awards which hadn't happened in 31 years. Jacki Weaver does a mean Philadelphian accent. Robert De Niro in the role of a father with affection and addiction issues is captivating. Weirdly enough, Cooper and Lawrence is an on-screen couple that works. I actually forgot that she is too young for the role because she delivers such an intense performance. She is the only one who came back home with a well-deserved Oscar. I was delighted by Cooper's radical mood swings or Lawrence's defying monologue to De Niro's face. It's a pleasure to see Tucker as Pat's friend from the institution and Julia Stiles as Tiffany's control freak of a sister (and now we can all agree that Stiles is a much better dancer than Lawrence). SLP will speak to the common folk because you can relate to the characters. It is about family issues, coping with loss, football, addiction, dancing like '