Argo

Last year when The Artist and Hugo took home tons of trophies on their way to big Oscar nights, it became clear that Hollywood is a big fan of movies about themselves. Sure both are quality movies, but since when does that get a movie Academy votes? If this trend continues this year, there is no doubt that Argo will have a full trophy case in its fake office. Both Directed by and starring Ben Affleck, Argo follows the true story of the CIA’s very stressful and odd maneuver to rescue six displaced American diplomats during the Iranian Hostage Crisis. Staging a fake movie, the Americans are presented as a Canadian film crew looking for shooting locations. Only the slightest bit of research tells me the film is highly dramatized and fictionalized, but it still covers the basic facts.

I can’t recall another film that is able to cut between such intense drama and witty comedy like Argo does. Alan Arkin and John Goodman, who play Hollywood big shots, prove to be a great distraction from the rioting masses portrayed in the Iranian scenes. But when it is time for that drama, it’s done incredibly well. Affleck’s calm confidence in the role of leading the escape shows a cool restraint in his acting that not only comforts the characters but also the viewers looking for some type of reprieve.

Americans love watching movies about classified, behind the scenes sort of stuff and Argo fills that want. There is always that moment in espionage thrillers that presents the common citizen as gullible for believing the untrue reports, but now we’re in on the secret. If Argo teaches us anything it’s that the government definitely has weird stuff going on in secret. It’s as if this story is straight out of the President’s “Book of Secrets.” I’m not talking about the movie with Nicholas Cage. I’m talking about the REAL “Book of Secrets.”

Each film earns either zero, a half or a full arrow in five categories. The categories are Acting, Writing/Directing, Emotion, Innovation and Overall Impression. The arrows are added up to equal the full score.