Argo (***1/2 out of ****)

Ben Affleck has now established himself as a director of remarkable talent. Take for example the opening of Argo. An american embassy is stormed by Iranian protesters and all but six americans are taken captive. The scene shows both rage and understanding. It intercuts scenes from handheld footage fitting of the time. So few "based on a true story" movies fully occupy the era within they live in. The opening of Argo is tense and engaging. If the film was nothing but white noise after that, I'd still list have put this film on the positive side. However much of Argo holds up and to it's stellar first ten minutes, making it a wonderful for nearly the whole at the end.

Argo is the telling of six Americans who fled the taking of the USA embassy in Iran and then hid out at the Canadian Ambassador's house for months. If they were found, they would be labeled spies for fleeing and hanged publicly. The CIA has no idea how to get them out. Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) is the guy to come up with the "best bad plan" they could get. He plans on faking a movie in the vein of Star Wars and wants to scout Iran as a possible location for shooting. It's so crazy that it could work. Life seems to stop for movie making. People are in awe of what may come and treat any little information they get like a child would being told a fantasy story. Tony plans on flying in Iran, forge documents and take the six americans out under the guise of a canadian film crew.

This is a tight and well made thriller on all fronts. John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Chris Messina, Bryan Cranston Kyle Chandler, Scoot McNairy, Tate Donovan and others all create and all star cast. Affleck as a director delivers on suspense, history and an occasional laugh. It's an overwhelming crowd pleaser. Yet it isn't one of those silly kinds, Argo is about as intelligent as a one can make without alienating the audience.  If it weren't for the last fifteen minutes and it's Hollywood style feel good joy, it might have been as strong as film as it could have been. However the ending doesn't weigh down the film enough to make it any less than fantastic. It's a film that could and is partially deserving of reaping in Oscar gold.

***1/2 out of ****