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Argo GK Films/Warner Bros. Pictures, 2012 Directed by Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone, The Town) Based on the true story published as The Master of Disguise by Tony Mendez and The Great Escape by Joshuah Bearman Running Time: 120 minutes Rated R for violence and profanity. Cast Ben Affleck (Daredevil, Gigli) as Tony Mendez Bryan Cranston (Walter White in Breaking Bad, Isamu in Macross Plus) as Jack O'Donnell Alan Arkin (Bill in Edward Scissorhands, Det. Hugo in Gattaca) as Lester Siegel John Goodman (Fred in The Flintstones, Pops in Speed Racer) as John Chambers Clea DuVall (Bashira in Ghosts of Mars, Jennifer in The Grudge) as Cora Lijek Christopher Denham as Mark Lijek Tate Donovan (Hercules in Kingdom Hearts) as Robert Anders Rory Cochrane (Charles in A Scanner Darkly) as Lee Schatz Scoot McNairy as Joseph Stafford Kerry Bishé (Lucy in Scrubs) as Kathy Stafford Kyle Chandler (Deputy Lamb in Super 8) as Hamilton Jordan Victor Garber (Thomas Andrews in Titanic) as Kenneth D. Taylor Synopsis During the 1979-1980 Iran hostage crisis, six Americans escape from the U.S. embassy before it is taken over by Islamist students and militants. They are given shelter at the Canadian embassy, but time is running out for them, as the Iranian government is close to locating their whereabouts. CIA operative Tony Mendez initiates an unusual rescue operation with the cooperation of the Canadian government, which involves sneaking into Iran and disguising the six Americans as a Canadian film crew for a phony science-fiction movie.Lowdown With all six Americans rescued and no casualties reported, the so-called "Canadian Caper" is a very unorthodox, but excellent example of how to conduct a rescue operation in a hostile environment. This film, based on the declassified CIA operation, captures the feel of the late-1970s from the gritty film texture to the '70s Warner Bros. logo to the deteriorated Hollywood sign (which was actually restored before the Iranian Revolution occurred). The music even features classic '70s rock from Van Halen and Led Zeppelin (plus Aerosmith, if you count the trailer). Only Ben Affleck himself sticks out like a sore thumb in the film, as he tries too hard to look like the '70s. He doesn't even look like the real Tony Mendez, for crying out loud. Despite that one flaw, Affleck does a wonderful job directing Argo, as he manages to build tension between all of the characters involved. We even get to see how politics are done in Hollywood, with excellent performances by Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, and John Goodman. One would find it hard to believe that someone actually funded casting production and advertising for a bogus movie. But in the end, the operation ended well as planned, unlike the failed Operation Eagle Claw. It's too bad the Argo movie was a complete fake. Still, it would've made a far better movie than Twilight. "Argo f*ck yourself." Rating: A- Links Official Argo Homepage References The Internet Movie Database Wikipedia