ARGO

Here's a short history lesson for you.  In 1979 in response to the US putting a leader into power in Iran who brought death and hardship to its people and then harboring him afterwards, the Iranian people captures the US embassy.  6 Americans were able to escape.  They were turned away by the British and a few other countries, but found refuge at the Canadian ambassador's house.  ARGO follows CIA operative Tony Mendez as he attempts to rescue them under the guise that they are a Canadian movie crew looking for a site.  (If you find this a bit unbelievable, well it actually happened)

Now you are up to speed.  Even if you aren't, the movie does a great job explaining all of this right upfront.  The movie is done so beautifully bringing this historical event to life by taking the audience through every aspect of the event.  This is one of those movies where you are on the edge of your seat, and still feel that way when you leave the theater.   It's already receiving Oscar buzz and rightfully so.

This is one of the must see movies of the year.  There are so many crapy movies out there, and when something like this comes along you wonder, why aren't more movies done like this.  It obviously can be done.  If you are going to spend over a million dollars, put a little effort into it.  Well done Ben Affleck, you put more than a little effort into it.  You have proven yourself as not just a great actor, but an amazing director.

I was lucky enough to get to see a screening of this that Ben Affleck spoke at afterwards.  I don't usually get too excited when I see actors in real life, but I was almost to the point of annoyingly giddy.  (Thank you TJ for putting up with me).  Yes Ben was all you would hope for and more: funny, good looking and tall.  Oh and he is a very talented actor and director, but you already knew that.  He spoke about how he wanted to portray the CIA in this movie as how it is, people's everyday jobs.  His reference of movies with Tom Cruise action scenes making the job look all sexy, isn't how it is every day.  Though Ben can make any job look sexy.  Ben Affleck also took time to talk about how he integrated comedy into the movie among the suspensful true story to help build this emotional roller coaster the audience felt.  The comedy duo of John Goodman and Alan Arkin added just the right laughter at the right moments.  It is a beautifully done movie.