Argo

A smart and very thoughtful reconstruction of historical events that has been missing here for a long time. The film beautifully oscillates between serious drama and accomplished satire, intertwining both key elements in individual scenes from side to side. The whole thing appears mature, intelligent, and it is damn entertaining and captivating to watch. Ben Affleck also hit with the costume design, the sets, and the cinematography. The performances are brilliant by all involved. (02/12/2014)

Ben Affleck confirms his quality as a director. This time, and based on the responses from abroad, he hit the bullseye of the taste of the American public and critics, and it’s no wonder. Argo is a decent period piece, a thriller, a drama, has a pinch of filmmaking comedy, it’s based on real events and you end up rooting for the clever and nice Americans. And from a genre perspective, it can be viewed without any politics. Personally, however, it didn’t captivate me, maybe because the climax relies too much on coincidences, and though the tension escalates nicely, the overall pleasant realistic feeling is lost. But overall, it’s your typical well made four star film, and a nice scapegoat for anti-American posers. (11/30/2012)

A precise picture. Ben leaves nothing to chance, unlike the Yankees on this operation. He knows very well what he can and can’t get away with. It’s not such a blockbuster as for instance The Town, but even so, Argo is pretty original, ingenious and historically accurate. Ben’s acting is rather dry, not attracting attention to himself (maybe a bit of a shame), but he’s still cool. In terms of acting, no problems with this movie. De-restricted material about how some non-existing dumb sci-fi saved lives will shut the mouths of people who badmouth sci-fi fantasy movies for being irrelevant. Argo is one of those irresistibly cheap combos of Star Wars and John Carter that has something to say to people in this century too. A bit of a problem is contrasting sprightly Hollywood (still with the old, tumbledown sign - the period accuracy is spot on) and Iran where a city-slicker hangs from the crane by his necktie. In any case, it’s a quality genre movie and I can’t wait for another movie with Ben. Argo fuck yourself. (12/04/2012)

Among film fans, it is a well-known fact that Ben Affleck is a much better director than an actor. But he is apparently not such a good director that he realizes the limits of his acting skills and adjusts the casting of the main character accordingly. That is unfortunate. What Ben Affleck builds in the director's seat, the same Ben Affleck tears down in the lead role with his bloodless performance. It's certainly not embarrassing, but it needed to be cast with a top-notch character actor. Ben Affleck's ability to create and maintain tension, his meticulousness in capturing the atmosphere of the 70s, as well as the revolutionary conditions in Iran after the fall of the Shah, still remain. In the field of political thrillers, it's not at the absolute peak, because Ben Affleck couldn't avoid a few unnecessarily melodramatic moments or getting emotional in family scenes, and the viewer's suspense is further marred by the fact that a film based on a true story has nothing to surprise you with and you simply know from the very beginning how it will end. On the other hand, it is a strong above-average film and it is a joy to watch such a well-executed screenplay. Overall impression: 75%. (04/19/2015)

Affleck didn't disappoint again. This time his work may not have that much panache and the viewer has to endure the first half of the film without any emotional basis for the events rather than experience them, but the final, one could say riveting, passage convinced me to give it a high rating and especially about Affleck's qualities as a director. A well-drawn tense situation, a beautiful period atmosphere, a surprisingly decent performance by Affleck and pleasant allusions to the deceitfulness and depravity of the movie industry, all this against a backdrop of a great escape that, in the end, had me completely engrossed and keeping my fingers crossed for the heroes as much as I have done for any film in a long time. Plus the necessary dose of clichés and the mandatory diversion towards the audience, which increased the dynamism and impact of the climax. My Oscar favourites this year may have been made of completely different dough, but Affleck rocked the academics in such style that he couldn't possibly lose. Patriotism is highly addictive, especially when it’s portrayed with such quality. "Argo, fuck yourself!" (03/10/2013)