Argo (2012)
Dir. Ben Affleck
I loved Argo.
There’s something so satisfying about a thriller that knows exactly how long to hold onto tension. Ben Affleck keeps the film moving without making it feel rushed, and the absurdity of the fake science-fiction movie premise somehow makes the whole thing even more stressful.
What I especially enjoyed is how the film balances the ridiculousness of the CIA operation with the very real danger surrounding the hostages. The Hollywood side of the story gives the movie some much-needed humor, while the escape itself becomes increasingly nerve-racking.
Alan Arkin and John Goodman are also having the time of their lives. Their scenes are some of the funniest in the film, especially because they understand how ridiculous Hollywood can be while simultaneously treating the fake movie like a legitimate production.
The airport sequence had me STRESSED. Even though I knew how the story ended, the film still managed to make me feel like everything could fall apart at any second.
Argo is slick, entertaining, tense, and surprisingly funny. Sometimes I just want a movie to grab me by the collar and say, “Okay, now we’re getting out of here.”
