Argo (2012 film)

Argo (2012 film)
Name	Argo
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Ben Affleck
Producer	Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck, George Clooney
Screenplay	Chris Terrio
Based on	The Master of Disguise, by Antonio J. Méndez, The Great Escape article, by Joshuah Bearman
Starring	Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman
Music	Alexandre Desplat
Cinematography	Rodrigo Prieto
Editing	William Goldenberg
Studio	GK Films, Smokehouse Pictures
Distributor	Warner Bros. Pictures
Released	2012, 8, 31, Telluride Film Festival, 2012, 10, 12, United States
Runtime	120 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$44.5 million
Gross	$232.3 million

Argo (2012 film) is a historical drama thriller directed by and starring Ben Affleck. The film dramatizes the Canadian Caper, a joint covert operation by the CIA and the Government of Canada during the Iran hostage crisis to rescue six American diplomats from Tehran. Produced by Grant Heslov, Affleck, and George Clooney, the screenplay by Chris Terrio is adapted from a 2007 Wired article by Joshuah Bearman and the memoir of CIA officer Antonio J. Méndez. Argo was a critical and commercial success, winning three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Plot

In November 1979, following the Iranian Revolution and the storming of the U.S. Embassy, six American diplomats evade capture and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador, Ken Taylor. In Washington, D.C., the CIA's Antonio "Tony" Mendez devises an audacious plan to exfiltrate them by posing as a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a fake science fiction film titled Argo. With help from Hollywood makeup artist John Chambers and producer Lester Siegel, Mendez establishes a credible cover. He travels to Tehran, provides the diplomats with false identities, and guides them through a tense confrontation at the airport, ultimately securing their escape on a Swissair flight just as Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces close in.

Cast

* Ben Affleck as Antonio "Tony" Mendez * Bryan Cranston as Jack O'Donnell * Alan Arkin as Lester Siegel * John Goodman as John Chambers * Victor Garber as Ken Taylor * Tate Donovan as Robert Anders * Clea DuVall as Cora Lijek * Scoot McNairy as Joe Stafford * Rory Cochrane as Lee Schatz * Christopher Denham as Mark Lijek * Kerry Bishé as Kathryn Stafford * Kyle Chandler as Hamilton Jordan * Chris Messina as Malinov * Željko Ivanek as Robert Pender * Titus Welliver as Jon Bates * Bob Gunton as Cyrus Vance * Philip Baker Hall as Warren Christopher * Richard Kind as Max Klein * Michael Parks as Jack Kirby

Production

Development began after George Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smokehouse Pictures acquired Joshuah Bearman's article. Chris Terrio wrote the script, with Ben Affleck signing on to direct and star after Warner Bros. Pictures and GK Films came aboard. Principal photography commenced in Los Angeles in 2011, with additional shooting in Washington, D.C., and Istanbul standing in for Tehran. Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto and production designer Sharon Seymour recreated period settings, including the Warner Bros. backlot. The score was composed by Alexandre Desplat, and editing was handled by William Goldenberg.

Historical accuracy

While based on true events, the film employs dramatic license. The role of the Canadian government and ambassador Ken Taylor was significantly downplayed, with the CIA portrayed as the sole architect; in reality, it was a joint operation with Canada and received aid from New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The climactic airport chase and last-minute revocation of the operation by President Jimmy Carter are fictionalized. The six diplomats and Mendez have stated the film captures the operation's essence and tension, though some, like Mark Lijek, noted the portrayal of inter-group conflict was exaggerated.

Release and reception

Argo premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2012, before a wide release by Warner Bros. Pictures on October 12. It grossed over $232 million worldwide against a $44.5 million budget. Critics praised Affleck's direction, the screenplay by Chris Terrio, the performances of Alan Arkin and John Goodman, and the film's suspenseful tone. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported a 96% approval rating, and Metacritic indicated "universal acclaim." The film sparked renewed public interest in the Iran hostage crisis and the Canadian Caper.

Accolades

Argo received widespread acclaim during the 2012 awards season. It won three Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay for Chris Terrio, and Best Film Editing for William Goldenberg. It also won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama and the BAFTA Award for Best Film. Ben Affleck received the DGA Award and a Golden Globe for his direction, though he was notably not nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director.

Category:2012 films Category:American historical drama films Category:Best Picture Academy Award winners