ARGO - film / by Cut to the chase

Argo is based on a true story from 1979 when the American embassy in Iran was invaded. The film follows the journey of six Americans who escaped the building and then had to find safe passage back to the USA. It’s directed by Ben Affleck who also stars as CIA guy Tony Mendez leading the escape operation.

The excellent news is that Affleck’s come good since the disastrous Gigli days - he's great in this. In Argo he rocks a 70s beard and shaggy hair do that are somehow quite attractive.

Alan Arkin and John Goodman steal some of the limelight as Hollywood hot shots who help Mendez create a fake feature film as part of a very unusual plan to free the six Americans. They get most of the funny lines and indeed, there’s quite a few so it’s not all nail-biting serious stuff.

The story builds to a tense crescendo and, not knowing the story at all, I was totally engrossed and desperate for a happy ending.

This film opens Thursday 15 October. Loved it, go see it!