Argo

Mulli

...
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2004
Posts
52,529
Reaction score
4,601
Location
Generational
Good to see it win best picture, but Discovery channel has a show called, "Argo: Inside Story" that been airing the past few days. Many of the ppl involved were interviewed, including Antonio Mendez.

I loved the movie, but it was definitely "adapted" by Hollywood.

It was adapted, but not significantly different that Tony Mendez' book, which was great.
 

slinslin

Welcome to Amareca
Joined
Jun 28, 2002
Posts
16,855
Reaction score
562
Location
Hannover - Germany
It was a good movie but to be honest I think massively overrated.

I saw both "Zero Dark Trinity" and "Argo". I had much higher expectations for Argo and had extremely low expectations for ZDT but afterall I must say that ZDT was more captivating and that Argo did not offer the intense thrilling atmosphere that I would expect from that kind of movie.
 

Dr. Jones

Has No Time For Love
Joined
Nov 2, 2004
Posts
27,336
Reaction score
16,223
Saw it last night. Good movie, I think it is not a best-picture-caliber flick though.
 

thirty-two

boglehead
Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2003
Posts
26,989
Reaction score
3,984
Really liked it. My heart was pounding during the beginning scenes.
 

NJCardFan

ASFN Icon
Joined
Jul 14, 2005
Posts
14,974
Reaction score
2,968
Location
Bridgeton, NJ
I think there is a valid argument about the Canadian presence in the film, but the film itself was really only shot in four point-of-views: The Iranians, the 6 Americans, the CIA and Ben Affleck. Perhaps it would have been different had there been more Canadian scenes, but there really were none--I do think they did a good job of making Ken Taylor look like a positive part of the whole situation--maybe not as much as Canadians would like, but I thought the addition of the minor subplot about the will-she or won't-she tell housekeeper was a nice touch.

Agreed. If Canadians are getting their panties in a wad over this, they need to chill. As was said, the main points of view are from Mendez, the 6 Americans, the Iranians looking for them, and to a lesser degree the U.S. State Department and the CIA. But no one, me included, will ever downplay the role the Canadians played. To put that into perspective, don't know how many here remember when this went down but afterward, I remember watching a Flyers game and the Canadian national anthem was played(they were not playing a Canadian team) in appreciation. That said, sometimes things have to be left out when making a movie. There were several key players left out most notably was the mysterious "Julio" who assisted Mendez. But Canadian involvement was not diminished as this movie was about the American involvement in the caper.

That said, I've watched this 3 times and all 3 times I was on the edge of my chair. This is a testament to a good director which Afleck is. Not a great actor but his direction is not 2nd rate at all.

Oh, as for the WWII comment, if we don't enter the war, Europe would still be under Nazi occupation.
 

mojorizen7

ASFN Addict
Joined
Oct 16, 2007
Posts
9,165
Reaction score
472
Location
In a van...down by the river.
2 for 1 post:

I watched Zero Dark Thirty one night,then Argo the very next night(a few nights ago)....back to Argo in a minute.

I'll never even bother to watch another Kathy Bigelow film again. Her critically acclaimed work is the sole reason i have avoided network tv drama for the last several years anyway. I went into ZDT with the best of intentions,not even realizing that it was another Bigelow film...it took all of about 15 minutes for me to realize that this was The Hurt Locker all over again.

I just feel dumbed down when the director has to do a real quick zoom in close up on people/actors when they have no dialogue...and then quickly zoom out and quick cut to a wall with graffitti on it. Like its supposed draw me in further somehow...Lol.
If its not a wall its a junkyard dog eating garbage out of a trash bag...so i'm supposed to feel like its a gritty scene. Its garbage alright.

Meanwhile there are actors overacting left and right with pretentious dialogue in the background and in conversation meant to draw me in further beacause "its a tense and tightly wound drama-filled situation"....whatever :lol: Its the directors fault. I hate this style of directing and as a result,acting.
I don't need to be conscious of your camera and actors trying sell the drama for 2 hours.

Let the story evoke the drama.
Argo did that for me. I'm not the biggest Affleck fan,but he nailed this IMO...yeah yeah,both of these films used the hollywood script as a tool to dramatize...but Argo was a far superior film in my eyes and ears. Very well written,well acted and executed.

I wish Katherine Bigelow would just leave filmaking and resurrect E.R. on television.Torture? Who cares? It was torture for me to sit thru this film. She's a hack.
 
Last edited:

Bada0Bing

Don't Stop Believin'
Joined
Feb 19, 2004
Posts
7,704
Reaction score
956
Location
Goodyear
great movie! Hats off to Ben Affleck. Lots of tension and nail-biting drama, even tho we all know what eventually happens. Loved John Goodman's character.

Argo f**k yourself! :)

Yeah, surprisingly intense for a drama. Especially with the outcome already known. Fantastic film.
 
Top