BECKY ZIMMER

Affleck and Cranston discuss an operation to remove American diplomats from Iran.

★★★★

Ben Affleck’s new film Argo, based on true events, tells the story of a CIA mission to rescue six American diplomats hiding out at the Canadian Ambassador’s house during the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the take-over of the American embassy in Iran.

The plan to rescue the diplomats, concocted by Tony Mendez (Affleck), a CIA agent specializing in fake identities, involves a fake Canadian film and smuggling the diplomats out as the film’s crew.

With the help of John Chambers (John Goodman), a Hollywood make-up artist, and Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin), a Hollywood big-wig, he creates a fake production company and a fake script titled Argo.

Affleck’s dramatic approach does surprisingly well considering his previous films like Dogma, Mall Rats and Daredevil, which were less-than-serious compared to his more recent films Argo and The Town. Just like his character, Affleck’s direction focuses on telling a story and forgoes good guy/bad guy labels.

The storming of the embassy in the opening scene provides background for the Iranian side of the conflict. The Iranian protesters’ takeover of the American embassy was because of the Americans’ refusal to extradite Mohammad Reza Pahlavi back to Iran after his violent and abusive reign as Shah of Iran.

The film focuses on six people stuck in a tense political situation and a man who has a plan to get them out. The terror of the remaining hostages is present in news clips and short scenes depicting their living conditions and the psychological turmoil they went through in 444 days of captivity.

The events in Argo are not just old news. The modern revolutions in Eygpt and Syria mirror the fight for freedom that is still not realized in the Arab Spring. Dictatorships where powerful men abuse their power because of this the events portrayed in this movie are relevant to today’s worldwide political strife.

The Canadian ambassador, Ken Taylor is played by Canadian actor Victor Garber in true Canuck spirit. The ambassador Taylor takes in the American diplomats, risking the lives of his wife, housing staff and self.

Affleck does not snub this Canadian connection that was so powerful during the events of the film, nor does he present stereotypes of Canadians. The Canadians in the film take responsibility for the hostage removal operation to protect the American hostages still in the embassy.

If you ignore the increased film quality, the cars, clothes and hair styles make you feel like you are watching a film made in 1979. You can feel authentic tension between the six American diplomats, the Canadian ambassador, his wife and the hostages at the embassy. Every facial expression and every bit of body language shows the fear that was present during this turbulent time.

Whether a knock on the door or a strange look from security personal, little moments in the film are shot so well that you’re always left wondering if this is it for the diplomats. Argo solidifies Affleck’s assent into serious film making.

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Photo: Supplied