Argo

Argo
by
Antonio Mendez

This book, Argo, is the  basis for the Ben Affleck film of the same name. I saw the movie and really liked it, in fact I think it was one of the best films of 2012. I was a little hesitant to get into this book because I thought it would be vastly different from the movie in ways that made the movie seem to be worse. But that never happened. That's not to say that the book is not as good as the film, just different.
There are certain things that the film did which make cinematic sense, and some have said, well okay, one guy at the library, but he said it loud and often, that the film was artificial with a fake sense of urgency, but the book was even worse because there was no urgency and the Americans were never in any danger from the Iranians. Well I concede the point that the movie shortened the timeline, amalgamated the two CIA operatives into the one played by Affleck. But no sense of urgency? No threat to the Americans? My only conclusion has to be that either the guy didn't finish the book or is a complete moron. When asked by the librarian if he finished the book since it was so "bad", he said he had, which I guess answers the question I posed.
I thought there was plenty of tension as the Americans tried to get out of Tehran and on to their flight to freedom. The book used spycraft, because presumably the real life versions of the CIA operatives did too. He has to stand in a window in the airport terminal that is visible from the drop-off point outside and hold as if reading a portfolio for the fake film that they were working on. If he's not holding or not where he can be seen when they arrive, they are to abort their mission and move to a backup plan and another way out of the country. This was as every bit compelling as the movie, just operating at the pace of real life instead of the full-ahead-wrap-this-up-in-two-hours pace of the film.
My advice is that if you are really interested in what you saw in the movie, read the book. If you want to see how the CIA was operating or want ot check out the footnotes, read the book. Otherwise, watch the film.

Argo at Powells.com

Argo (2012)

This is one of those rare films, not counting sequels, where I go into it knowing almost everything about it. I'd heard reviews, plot descriptions and at least two interviews with Ben Affleck. I knew how the movie ended. Usually when this happens, I am watching the film because either I am a fan of the franchise (see the comment above about sequels) or I'm in it for the eye candy, i.e. the special effects, and more than a few times, both. I tend to stay away from films in this situation, because I feel that you can only be disappointed. Well, I am happy to stand corrected. As mentioned, I knew what was going to happen the whole way through and yet there I was worried that someone might crack under pressure or that someone else wouldn't get to the phone in time. I can understand why this film won the best picture Oscar. I hoped I would like this film, because every time I heard Affleck talk about it, he was so...I don't know, humble. He seemed like a nice guy who worked hard to make what he thought was a great movie, but not great because he did it, but because of the story and the people involved.
Affleck pulled double duty as star and director. To pull either one of those off well is commendable, but to pull them both off well, that's just impressive. And while I'm at least a little bit biased, I want to say on the record that Ben was rocking that beard. I'm guessing the nice thing about being director is deciding to have a full beard instead of one of those big ridiculous looking mustaches.
Affleck didn't pull this off alone. He had Bryan Cranston playing his boss, John Goodman playing his Hollywood connection and Alan Arkin playing the producer who puts the fake movie together. I think I might have mentioned before that I am a big fan of Cranston and everything I've ever seen him in. He puts it all out there in every performance, and I for one appreciate it. John Goodman is another one of my all-time favorites. I fucking watched Roseanne because he was in it. That is fan loyalty. While I don't go out looking for Alan Arkin flicks, I certainly take notice when I hear that he's in a film, as I always enjoy his work.
Watching this film, I was convinced that I was in 1980. Affleck did a great job of mixing actual news footage from the time alongside some well made re-enactments of memorable scenes along with the main body of the film which looked like 1980. There were lots of great scenes in this film, but one that sticks out in my mind is right after Mendez (Ben Affleck) picks up the VW bus in Tehran and drives passed a Kentucky Fried Chicken that's as busy as ever and there are old women sitting out front in their black hijabs eating fried chicken.
And kudos for getting President Carter to do the voice over at the end of the movie. I don't know if I think he was a good President or not, but I think he is the greatest ex-President this country has ever seen. That was a really nice touch.
Seeing Argo, and not only enjoying it but respecting the job that Affleck did goes a little ways towards forgiving Jennifer Garner for marrying him instead of waiting for me. A little ways.

Argo on IMDb