Argo 2012
I watched Argo right after watching another 2012 CIA movie, Zero Dark Thirty. They are two very different movies, but both based on actual events where the CIA triumphed over its enemies. Argo takes a much lighter path and didn’t hesitate to change events around to make for a better movie. Zero Dark Thirty changed facts around to make it easier to tell the story, but not to improve the subject matter. Instead ZD30 was heavy, with a lot of scenes of torture. In both cases, you know the ending, but Argo was more suspenseful. Both are good movies, but in terms of entertainment, Argo did a better job and in that sense is a better movie. That is odd because between the two true stories, there is no question that tracking down Osama bin Laden was the better story, although ending with the killing of a guy (and several others) isn’t going to be quite as happy as the freeing of six people.
Ben Affleck does a good job directing, sticking to the playbook by creating a tense movie, even if it doesn’t try to break new ground. There are a lot more recognizable stars in Argo as well, including Alan Arkin, who is always fun to watch.
Written: 19 May 2013
Owned on: Blu-ray, Digital