Argo offers more proof that Ben Affleck really has a lot to offer the film industry, but his talents lie behind the camera rather than in front of it. With Argo he offers up a true human drama about an attempt to extract and save six Americans trapped in revolutionary Iran. The film’s story delves into the kind of heroes that deserve to have their stories told. All around Argo is a very enjoyable film really keeps your attention through out.

The film follows CIA operative Tony Mendez, and his daring plot to establish a fake Canadian movie in order to look for locations in Iran so he can get the targets and get out alive. John Goodman and Alan Arkin are both great in their smaller parts as a Hollywood make-up artist and a film producer who aid Mendez on his little project. They offer a bit of light comedy in an otherwise very serious drama. Bryan Cranston is also fantastic as another CIA agent. Ben Affleck, however, is one of the few things that doesn’t work in the film, he gives an emotionless performance that just shows a complete lack of prowess on the acting front. It’s a one-note performance and it gets you through the film, but it’s just lazy.

This was a very tense movie offering some very dramatic scenes that put you on the edge of your seat, this can’t be said about every scene that attempts this tension. If I had one other problem with the film it would be just a couple scenes (I don’t want to give them away if you haven’t seen the movie) that felt overdramatic and more like a movie, scenes that were trying to make you worry about the innocent characters. I understand where the filmmakers were coming from, but I felt like just a few moments were trying way too hard when the rest of the film was a taut thriller that seemed to accurately depict an event and period.

All in all, Argo was very enthralling film and one I’d certainly watch again regardless of my very slight issues with it. It was the kind of true story that should be told for two reasons; it was a story I’ve never heard of and it was quite the amazing story. Argo was able to throw a lot of elements into its story from very dramatic moments to very comedic and satirical (hollywood-wise) moments. Argo, all together, was a rather excellent film and offered more evidence to the fact that Ben Affleck should continue directing movies.

Grade: A-