Argo (2012)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Tense, exciting, and often darkly comic, Argo recreates a historical event with vivid attention to detail and finely wrought characters.
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Cast
as Tony Mendez
as Lester Siegel
as John Chambers
as Jack O'Donnell
as Christine Mendez
as Bob Anders
as Cora Lijek
as Max Klein
as Mark Lijek
as Joe Stafford
as Ken Taylor
as Lee Schatz
as Kathy Stafford
as Hamilton Jordan
as Malinov
as Robert Pender
as Bates
as Adam Engell
as Cyrus Vance
as OSS Officer Nicholls
as Reza Borhani
as Pat Taylor
as Azizi Checkpoint #3
as Sahar
as Elizabeth Ann Swift
as Sgt. Sickmann
as Alan B. Golacinski
as William J. Daugherty
as Col. Charles W. Scott
as Sgt. William Gallegos
as Thomas L. Ahern, Jr.
as Fred Kupke
as Student with Poster
as Marine #1
as Marine #2
as Lady with Radio
as Tear Gas Student
as Malick
as Peter Genco
as Brice
as Hal Saunders
as Landon Butler
as Jon Titterton
as Jordan's Secretary
as Jordan's Analyst
as Lamont
as Rossi
as Tehran Mary
as Ian Mendez
as David Marmor
as Ali Khalkhali
as Moradi
as The Minotaur
as Space Lab Nurse
as Film Director
as First A.D.
as PA
as Lester's Housekeeper
as Jack Kirby
as Publicist
as Nina/Serksi the Galactic Witch
as Variety Reporter
as LA Times Reporter
as Princess Aleppa
as Evil Villain
as Achilles Crux
as Humanoid Robot
as Green Jacket
as Nestor the Android
as Blue Monster
as Persian Dancer
as Sci Fi Body Suit Girl
as Middle Class Iranian Woman
as Middle Class Iranian Man
as Iranian Consulate Official
as British Airways Flight Attendant
as Airport Husband
as Immigration Officer
as Immigration Officer
as Immigration Officer
as Immigration Officer
as Airport Hysterical Wife
as Deputy Minister of Islamic Guidance
as Producer
as Tehran Car Rental Man
as Bearded Fundamentalist in Bazaar
as Bazaar Shopkeeper
as Bazaar Angry Man
as Angry Woman
as Hedley Donovan
as Alan Sosa
as Engell's Secretary
as Sgt. Gauthier
as Sgt. Gauthier
as White House Operator
as Swissair Ticketing Agent
as Passport Official
as Carpet Factory Komiteh
as Revolutionary Guard
as Revolutionary Guard
as CIA Archives officer
as Swissair Pilot
as Air Traffic Controller
as Komiteh Subordinate
as Swissair Flight Attendant
as Iraqi Border Guard
as Revolutionary Guard
as Revolutionary Guard
as Revolutionary Guard
as Revolutionary Guard
as Lock Up PA
as Swissair Gate Agent
as Young Komiteh at Airport
as Swissair Co-Pilot
as Assistant Secretary of State
as State Dept. Official
News & Interviews for Argo
Critic Reviews for Argo
All Critics (313) | Top Critics (53) | Fresh (300) | Rotten (13) | DVD (4)
The cast helps to keep things moving -- particularly the hilarious interplay between Arkin and Goodman. And is it me, or should Bryan Cranston be in every film released?
Let's just say that the movie's final section is so nail-bitingly tense, thanks to a skillful combination of acting, writing and crosscutting, that it puts Affleck in the big leagues as a director.
Entertaining and suspenseful in old-fashioned ways.
Affleck himself turns in a quietly impressive movie star performance. Tony Mendez is a kind of anti-Bourne, comfortable with his anonymity, living off his wits, not his fists.
With Affleck's continued growth as a director, it makes you want to see what he will deliver next.
For 100 minutes, 'Argo' is close to flawless.
Audience Reviews for Argo
All this kicked off when I was but a mere sprog at the tender age of 1 year old, that's a long time ago folks. So Affleck steps up to the podium with an attempt at an epic, gritty, realistic political rollercoaster which is based on a true story where there wasn't actually that much danger truth be told. Based on true events and more recently an article about the whole charade. The story involves a small group of Americans trapped in Iran after the US embassy was stormed and taken by militants. The group pretty much hide away in various places, moving around somewhat with the help of other foreign embassy folk until the Canadian Ambassador 'takes them in'. From there on the CIA conjure up a plan to extract the lost escapees by hoaxing the scouting of a major motion sci-fi picture and pretending the six Americans are crew members. On the visual side of things this film did impress me, its pretty flawless as Iran is recreated right down to small details that were captured on film at the time (a man strung up by a large crane downtown). The clothes, hairstyles, cars, interior decorations, technology etc...are all spot on and captures the late 70's perfectly. The cast are all terrific and perform beautifully, I admit I don't know who most of them are (the escapees mainly) but they do a sterling job. Alan Arkin is by far the best thing going for the A list actors on show. His gruff, rude outspoken manner is brilliant for his character of the film producer Lester Siegel (fictional character), great Hollywood type name too. John Goodman is here again!! this time he does a good job as old Hollywood makeup artist John Chambers. Not only is his calm demeanour very likeable and pleasant but he actually looks like the guy too. When it comes to the lead role of 'Mendez' played by Affleck I gotta take a step back from my enjoyment of the film. Like I say I did enjoy the film, but a nagging thought in my head just keeps telling me Affleck gave or saved the best meatiest role for himself...simply because it was his film and he could. Yes Affleck does OK in the role, there is no machoism going on, no over the top acting, its all very straight laced and plain. But the fact his character was Latino and I don't think Affleck really looked like the guy either kinda makes me wonder why he just didn't cast someone more appropriate. Yes I realise what I just said doesn't mean Affleck wouldn't be good for the role and not give the right performance, but because he was the director I just sense a bit of self indulgence really. Meh! but that's just me. So yep this was truly daring stuff, the kind of thing you'd half expect to hear from a dashing WWII adventure by us crafty Brits. As usual though we do have the problem of the Yanks taking a lot of credit for themselves and ignoring everyone else. As with a few other war stories, certain other parties involved in this plot have unfortunately been given a bit of the cold shoulder. To the common viewer it won't make a difference of course but to those involved it has been noticed and caused a slight stir. Most of the film is a build up for the finale which doesn't disappoint I guarantee. The whole finale is a bit predictable naturally but it still grabs you by the collar. Even the build up is interesting which surprised me as I expected lots of dull political/government spiel from lots of grey suited blokes with thick rimmed glasses and hair partings you could sail a boat down. The film in general, I must give kudos to Affleck and his team for what they have achieved. Despite the need for adding a few Hollywood moments to rack up the tension like the runway chase and various sweat inducing confrontations, the film is reasonably accurate and highly enjoyable. Probably the most exciting tense ride I've experienced in a film for sometime where no one actually gets shot or killed!
Super Reviewer
Ben Affleck proves again that he is a very talented director, nailing it with this gripping and gut-wrenching thriller that blends a lot of tension and humor with success - despite a pretty obvious and artificial desire to escalate the tension to the point of almost torture.
Super Reviewer
Solid, for the most part, but seems to morph into a whole different movie in the middle. It's goofier in the Hollywood scenes, bookended by an intense introduction and conclusion. A high-quality rental if you're looking for a recommendation.
Super Reviewer
Argo Quotes
| Lester Siegel: | History starts out as farce and ends up as tragedy |
| Lester Siegel: | History starts out as farce and ends up as tragedy. |
| Jack O'Donnell: | We're a spy agency!! Find him!!!! |
| Jack O'Donnell: | We're a spy agency! Find him! |
| Lester Siegel: | If I'm doing a fake movie, it's gonna be a fake hit. |
| John Chambers: | We did it! |
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