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BaftaBaby 
"Always entranced by cinema."
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 Posted - 11/16/2012 : 11:53:44
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Writer Chris Terrio and director/star Ben Affleck have produced one of the outstanding films of the year. Intelligent and engaging, it guides us through the murky and unexpectedly absured political farce of the Iran hostage crisis which - we now learn - was kept secret from the public for nearly 20 years. It became known as The Canadian Caper.
Before addressing the film itself, it's important to understand why tell this story at this particular time. Publicity embargoes on historical events usually are put in place to avoid embarrassment of governments, the military, big biz, and/or people. They're often enacted in the name of national security, though that's rarely the truth.
So, of course, it's possible to view Argo as a "well, whaddya know about that!!" type film. But I think both Affleck the director, and Affleck the co-exec producer [with George Clooney], used the film to question much of the almost inexplicable foreign policy currently and in recent years.
The fact that almost none of the key players portrayed has sufficient screen-time to do more than attempt to flesh out their sketchy characters, pretty well proves the film's intent is to feature implications rather than schmaltzy soap-opera dramas. The exception is - and almost has got to be - Affleck's portrait of clever and imaginative agent Tony Mendez. The real Mendez was finally allowed the public recognition he deserved in the early 1990s.
By examining documentation of the Iran hostage crisis which is now in the public domain, there are clear parallels with contemporary events. Not on a like-for-like basis, but clear enough to at least question the motives and veracity of the p.r. political machine in every single country - whichever "side" or sentiment.
OK - so with Argo - the story itself is one of those that begs you to believe it's been made up. The premise is how the hell to assure the safe return of six members of the US diplomatic service whose colleagues in the Teheran embassy were held hostage for well over a year. By some fluke they escaped the take-over of the US embassy by Iranian revolutionaries, finding shelter at the Canadian embassy residence.
Behind the scenes alliances between the CIA, some Hollywood film-makers, Jimmy Carter, and the Canadian government sadly did little to alter the political back-stabbing between right and left in America, which resulted in Carter's being thrown to the wolves.
The story of how the six were rescued is fascinating, and in Argo, told with clarity and great wit. The premise is that agent Mendez poses as the co-producer of a low-budget Star Wars rip-off seeking filming locations in Iran. The six fugitives will become part of the pre-production team, given credible false papers, and leave as tolerated Canadians rather than shoot-on-sight Americans.
I loved the film, and Affleck is truly a film-making talent. But more importantly, it confirmed my strengthening conviction that on the world-stage, we're never ever ever told the truth. And that ain't always because of national security - whatever nation is peddling the lies.
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Edited by - BaftaBaby on 11/16/2012 14:21:15 |
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Beanmimo 
"August review site"
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Posted - 02/20/2013 : 23:57:37
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I agree fully with Bafta on this one.
Affleck is really proving himself to be quite a fine director and as the main character manages to let the supporting characters do all the work.
It is such an unbelievable story it had to be true, even if you know the full details Affleck sustains the suspense perfectly, the uncertainty of the mission balanced with the fear of the hostages.
I must go back and rewatch his first two!! |
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Sean 
"Necrosphenisciform anthropophagist."
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Posted - 03/19/2013 : 11:27:35
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quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
But more importantly, it confirmed my strengthening conviction that on the world-stage, we're never ever ever told the truth.
We're not told the truth in this movie either. Most of it was outright fiction. The defuse-the-bomb-with-1-second-remaining nature of the last half hour or so is obviously fiction, but many other 'facts' are simply made up for dramatic purposes.
As fictional entertainment this is pretty good, probably 7/10, but as a historical record it gets about 2/10.
I don't know why Hollywood has to Hollywood-ise every real story they're given, the 'real' story is actually fascinating enough as it is. It just bugs me that some people will actually get their history from such movies. |
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BaftaBaby
"Always entranced by cinema."
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Posted - 03/19/2013 : 16:37:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Sean
quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
But more importantly, it confirmed my strengthening conviction that on the world-stage, we're never ever ever told the truth.
We're not told the truth in this movie either. Most of it was outright fiction. The defuse-the-bomb-with-1-second-remaining nature of the last half hour or so is obviously fiction, but many other 'facts' are simply made up for dramatic purposes.
As fictional entertainment this is pretty good, probably 7/10, but as a historical record it gets about 2/10.
I don't know why Hollywood has to Hollywood-ise every real story they're given, the 'real' story is actually fascinating enough as it is. It just bugs me that some people will actually get their history from such movies.
Yeah, like Lincoln and The Green Berets!!   
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Sludge 
"Charlie Don't Serf!"
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Posted - 03/20/2013 : 14:28:55
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quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
quote:
Originally posted by Sean
quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
But more importantly, it confirmed my strengthening conviction that on the world-stage, we're never ever ever told the truth.
We're not told the truth in this movie either. Most of it was outright fiction. The defuse-the-bomb-with-1-second-remaining nature of the last half hour or so is obviously fiction, but many other 'facts' are simply made up for dramatic purposes.
As fictional entertainment this is pretty good, probably 7/10, but as a historical record it gets about 2/10.
I don't know why Hollywood has to Hollywood-ise every real story they're given, the 'real' story is actually fascinating enough as it is. It just bugs me that some people will actually get their history from such movies.
Yeah, like Lincoln and The Green Berets!!
Green Berets? Well whaddya know about that!! |
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benj clews 
"...."
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Posted - 03/20/2013 : 15:09:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Sean
It just bugs me that some people will actually get their history from such movies.
Maybe that's also why Iran's suing over it, rather than just accept Hollywood almost always rewrites history in the name of entertainment...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21805140 |
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BaftaBaby
"Always entranced by cinema."
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Posted - 03/20/2013 : 16:49:13
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quote:
Originally posted by benj clews
quote:
Originally posted by Sean
It just bugs me that some people will actually get their history from such movies.
Maybe that's also why Iran's suing over it, rather than just accept Hollywood almost always rewrites history in the name of entertainment...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21805140
Heh-heh ... now, maybe, some big-wig Iranians have shares in WB, and this is their latest helping hand in the publicity worldwide ...  
As I said way up there ^ we NEVER get the truth. Argo isn't exactly a documentary, and "based on" should presuppose poetic license. I mean, whose poetic license hasn't been revoked at some point. Spielberg's, Bigelow's, yadda-yadda ...
Media Means Manipulation!
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randall
"I like to watch."
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Posted - 03/25/2013 : 00:31:08
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| I thought it was illuminating when it needed to be, funny when it needed to be, and wildly fictional when it needed to be. Don't make the mistake of viewing this film and assuming it's history; it's not. What it is, is a provocative evening's entertainment which got real lucky. |
Edited by - randall on 03/25/2013 00:32:12 |
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Argo
