100 movies: Argo

comments 31
100 movies of 2012
Every year I set myself a target, usually of about 100, of films to watch. These are new films. Not new, new films. But films that are new to me. Any time I’ve seen a new one, I post a bit of a brain dump of my thoughts on the film here. Enjoy!

ArgoArgo (07/11/12)

A dramatization of the 1980 joint CIA-Canadian secret operation to extract six fugitive American diplomatic personnel out of revolutionary Iran.

I tip my hat off to you, Ben Affleck. I more than tip my hat off to you. Never have I been so happy to see an actor turn director and do it so damn well. Gone Baby Gone, The Town and now Argo. That is an impressive list. And they just get better and better.

Now, I didn’t really know about the story behind the film, Argo. Shame on me, I know. And watching a film about the events isn’t really filling in the gaps as I’m sure there was a level of artistic licence with the events that took place.

Okay, the film, what about Argo? Bloody amazing. It’s a pretty unbelievable story, but it’s made believable by all of the characters involved and the actors playing them. You really feel for them from the beginning with the rather terrifying scene of the beginning of the hostage situation.

What I thought Argo did beautifully was blend humour and the rather tense situation that’s going on around these people. The moments of comedy complimented the moments where I was gripping onto the armrests of my seat. Especially the last 45 minutes. Wow. It honestly felt like, to me, the situation could go either way. Tense stuff.

The cast make this film for me. Everyone from Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Tate Donovan, Alan Arkin and John Goodman. What a freaking cast list! They were all perfect in their roles, helping make the film feel realistic and down to Earth. Special kudos to Ben Affleck. Not only did he do a brilliant job directing, but he made for a great leading man. Sort of an understated performance. But solid.

Argo is an excellent thriller. One I am itching to see again.
Rating: 5/5

Read on to see all the films watched this year…

80 Films so far this year

  1. The Tourist 1/5 (02/01/12)
  2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 5/5 (03/01/12)
  3. World’s Greatest Dad 2/5 (14/01/12)
  4. Haywire 3/5 (19/01/12)
  5. Dead Snow 3/5 (20/01/12)
  6. The Artist 5/5 (21/01/12)
  7. Priest 2/5 (05/02/12)
  8. The Muppets 5/5 (15/02/12)
  9. Faster 4/5 (19/02/12)
  10. Chronicle 4/5 (22/02/12)
  11. Safe House 4/5 (24/02/12)
  12. Reservoir Dogs 4/5 (25/02/12)
  13. This Means War 4/5 (02/03/12)
  14. The Royal Tenenbaums 3/5 (03/03/12)
  15. Reign of Fire 3/5 (04/03/12)
  16. Dear John 2/5 (04/03/12)
  17. Road to Perdition 5/5 (05/03/12)
  18. The Three Musketeers 3/5 (06/03/12)
  19. The Eagle 2/5 (10/03/12)
  20. Everybody’s Fine 2/5 (14/03/12)
  21. Frankenstein 4/5 (15/03/12)
  22. Love and Other Drugs 2/5 (15/03/12)
  23. You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger 2/5 (17/03/12)
  24. The Big Lebowski 5/5 (18/03/12)
  25. The Hunger Games 3/5 (23/03/12)
  26. Headhunters 4/5 (07/04/12)
  27. Super 1/5 (07/04/12)
  28. The Cabin in the Woods 5/5 (13/04/12)
  29. Watchmen 4/5 (14/04/12)
  30. The Hurt Locker 3/5 (21/04/12)
  31. Avengers Assemble 5/5 (26/04/12)
  32. 22 Bullets 2/5 (28/04/12)
  33. Bad Teacher 1/5 (29/04/12)
  34. Red Riding Hood 1/5 (04/05/12)
  35. A Perfect Getaway 4/5 (05/05/12)
  36. Ca$h 1/5 (13/05/12)
  37. Kung Fu Panda 2 3/5 (14/05/12)
  38. Everything Must Go 2/5 (24/05/12)
  39. New York, I Love You 2/5 (25/05/12)
  40. Beginners 4/5 (26/05/12)
  41. Prometheus 4/5 (03/06/12)
  42. The Tree of Life 2/5 (04/06/12)
  43. The Lovely Bones 3/5 (05/06/12)
  44. Snow White and the Huntsman 3/5 (06/06/12)
  45. The Devil’s Backbone 4/5 (07/06/12)
  46. Britain in a Day 5/5 (11/06/12)
  47. The French Connection 4/5 (15/06/12)
  48. Insomnia 3/5 (16/06/12)
  49. Rebel Without a Cause 4/5 (22/06/12)
  50. A Lonely Place to Die 3/5 (26/06/12)
  51. Killer Joe 3/5 (29/06/12)
  52. The Amazing Spider-Man 4/5 (03/07/12)
  53. Raising Arizona 4/5 (04/07/12)
  54. Horrible Bosses 4/5 (06/07/12)
  55. Broadcast News 3/5 (07/07/12)
  56. We Need to Talk About Kevin 4/5 (07/07/12)
  57. Miller’s Crossing 4/5 (18/07/12)
  58. The Dark Knight Rises 5/5 (20/07/12)
  59. 21 Jump Street 5/5 (29/07/12)
  60. The Mystery Team 3/5 (07/08/12)
  61. The Help 4/5 (11/08/12)
  62. The Bourne Legacy 3/5 (13/08/12)
  63. The Expendables 2 4/5 (17/08/12)
  64. Brave 5/5 (19/08/12)
  65. Dracula 3/5 (19/08/12)
  66. The Woman in Black 3/5 (24/08/12)
  67. The Mummy 4/5 (28/08/12)
  68. Lawless 3/5 (30/08/12)
  69. Real Steel 2/5 (31/08/12)
  70. [REC] 3 Genesis 2/5 (04/09/12)
  71. Take Shelter 4/5 (15/09/12)
  72. Dredd 3D 3/5 (19/09/12)
  73. The Apartment 5/5 (23/09/12)
  74. Young Frankenstein 5/5 (25/09/12)
  75. Looper 5/5 (28/09/12)
  76. Sinister 3/5 (10/10/12)
  77. Skyfall 5/5 (26/10/12)
  78. The Prince & Me 3/5 (31/10/12)
  79. Crazy, Stupid, Love 4/5 (03/11/12)
  80. Argo 5/5 (07/11/12)

31 Comments

  1. Completely agree with you, to me this was a perfect movie too, nothing I can fault it for. It had me hooked from start to finish and loved the Hollywood bits.

    • Would love to see it again! Though, I think there’s a few new films out I really should see – The Master & Silver Linings Playbook.

  2. Completely agree about the blend of humour and tense moments. There’s a section in the middle when they’re getting the cover film up and running that it becomes almost a comedy for 30 minutes, but you’re never allowed to forget how serious the situation is. He found a good balance. Affleck’s still getting better every film as a director.

    • One of my favourite periods of the film, the bit that you mentioned. It’s almost like a very tense comedy. If such thing exists!

  3. Good review Jaina. Not my favorite movie of the year, but a very well-made one that I think should garner Affleck a nomination. Even though, I do think that it should have been done 2 years ago for The Town.

  4. Glad you liked it! I agree that Affleck did a great job not only as a director but also as an actor here, such a lovely, subtle work.

  5. I know what you mean about Ben Affleck. He’s pretty good at what he does. I’m super impressed by his movies lately. He’s come a long way from Kevin Smith’s movies (which I loved him in too).

    Great review.

    • I don’t think I’ve seen him in many Kevin Smith films. Something people keep telling me off about actually.

    • Hell no! I don’t know what happened. I was doing great up until September/Octoberish. Then it all went kaplooey. Ohhh well!

      Yet to see Shame. Been waiting for it to show up on Sky. Needs to hurry up.

  6. Can’t wait to see this. Affleck continues to impress…The Town was great…and the positive remarks this film is getting fills me with excitement.

  7. Wow, perfect score. I haven’t watch The Town, though I heard good things about it. I admit, I’m still underrestimating Affleck. Perhaps I’m wrong. Good review!

    • Affleck has done some brilliant work. I never really thought he was an abysmal actor or anything, thought he was ok. The years have done well for him – matured him and given him a heap more talent.

  8. One of my favorites this year. Glad you dug it, too, Jaina.

    Looks like you’re coming up on the home stretch of your movie project. You can do it!

  9. My only complaint is that the whole police cars chasing them as they took off on the runway scenario seemed a bit overcooked and overly Hollywoodised. If it really was that close, then fair play but I doubt it and I think it took away from what had been a very realistic and down to earth tale. Still flipping awesome film though!

    • Agreed, that bit was very Hollywood. Bit of artistic licence going on here. I was half expecting a car to crash into something and there be a flaming fireball chasing the plane away!

  10. Glad you love this film. I think it’d end up in my top 10 of the year.

    So how’s Scotland? Hope you took a bunch of photos. That’s one of my dream place to visit!

  11. He has gone an impressive 3 for 3, hasn’t he Jaina?

    This is probably my least favorite of the three, but that’s not even a dis, because I think theyre all great.

    I didnt know this story either, until they started making the movie. LOL. I was too young… so… dont sweat it. LOL

    • I think this might be a middle one for me. Gone Baby Gone is hands down my favourite. I’ve only ever seen that film the once, can’t bring myself to watch it again, it’s just that emotional.

  12. Ah, you are the second person to recommend this film to me this week, and it’s only Monday! I will have to go see it.

Leave a Reply to JainaCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.