Argo (2012)

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

Director:

Ben Affleck

Writers:

Chris Terrio (screenplay), Tony Mendez (based on a selection from "The Master of Disguise" by),

Stars:

Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin

Won 3 Oscars. Another 63 wins & 64 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Affleck	...	Tony Mendez
Bryan Cranston	...	Jack O'Donnell
Alan Arkin	...	Lester Siegel
John Goodman	...	John Chambers
Victor Garber	...	Ken Taylor
Tate Donovan	...	Bob Anders
Clea DuVall	...	Cora Lijek
Scoot McNairy	...	Joe Stafford
Rory Cochrane	...	Lee Schatz
Christopher Denham	...	Mark Lijek
Kerry Bishé	...	Kathy Stafford
Kyle Chandler	...	Hamilton Jordan
Chris Messina	...	Malinov
Zeljko Ivanek	...	Robert Pender
Titus Welliver	...	Bates

Storyline

In 1979, the American embassy in Iran was invaded by Iranian revolutionaries and several Americans were taken hostage. However, six managed to escape to the official residence of the Canadian Ambassador and the CIA was eventually ordered to get them out of the country. With few options, exfiltration expert Tony Mendez devised a daring plan: to create a phony Canadian film project looking to shoot in Iran and smuggle the Americans out as its production crew. With the help of some trusted Hollywood contacts, Mendez created the ruse and proceed to Iran as its associate producer. However, time was running out with the Iranian security forces closing in on the truth while both his charges and the White House had grave doubts about the operation themselves.

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Plot Keywords:

canadian | hostage | cia | ambassador | u.s. embassy | 

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Taglines:

Based on the exaggerated true story.

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Genres:

Drama | History | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some violent images

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Persian

Release Date:

12 October 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Escape from Tehran

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$44,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$19,458,109 (USA) (12 October 2012)

Gross:

$136,019,448 (USA) (19 April 2013)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, GK Films, Smokehouse Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 130 min (Extended Version)

Sound Mix:

SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lester Siegel (played by Alan Arkin) is said to be a composite character. However, in real life, makeup artist Robert Sidell, a friend of John Chambers, posed as the fake film's producer. Sidell's wife, Andi, was the fake production company's receptionist. Ben Affleck assumed Sidell, like Chambers, had passed away, but was informed just prior to the film's release that he was still alive and well. Affleck had Robert Sidell flown to the film's LA premiere, and, in his opening remarks, gave recognition to Sidell for his part in the Canadian Caper.

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Goofs

When Tony Mendez is issued his airline ticket he's given seat 1C. This is first class aisle bulkhead seat. When he boards the plane he's in a coach window seat.

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Quotes

John Chambers: [to Tony Mendez] You need somebody who's a somebody to put their name on it. Somebody respectable. With credits. Who you can trust with classified information. Who will produce a fake movie. For free.

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Crazy Credits

Past the photos of cast members and the real people they play, there's audio from an interview with then-President Jimmy Carter talking about the crisis.

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #21.14 (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Dance the Night Away"
Written by Edward Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth
Performed by Van Halen
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

Overrated for political reasons

Anti-Iran and racist,shows Iranians as browny raged full of hate people, putting that aside the film itself is not that great i liked the production design,none of the characters are memorable,and non of the acting is good,and Alan Arkin's role is not that good and he doesn't deserve an Oscar nomination, the fact is it deserves More than a star a three or four star but i gave it a star to lower its overall rating, comparing it to last years Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy which is another 70′s retro spy film it miserably fails, and its simple direction and story telling doesn't make it an amazing thriller either, But America and israel are having problems with Iran these days So i guess Hollywood had to deliver a film at the right time to brain wash and "" help the peace cause"".