The DU Lounge

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,182 posts) Mon Mar 25, 2013, 09:50 AM Mar 2013

Saw Argo last night. What did everyone else think? (Discussion might contain spoilers)

I thought it was pretty well done. A lot of big name actors. I think it was impressive that they were able to make a movie so exciting and thrilling with little on-screen violence and death. Kudos to Ben Affleck for being able to pull that off; it shows it can be done.

From what I've read afterwards, the film glossed over some of the key Canadian figures instrumental in helping with the plan, and apparently the climatic scene at the airport was dramatized significantly. But that's not all that uncommon when dealing with most dramatizations of historical events, so what are you going to do.

My parents had told me they enjoyed it tremendously, in part because they told me it "made Jimmy Carter look really, really good." And it did show the Carter administration coming through by securing the airline tickets at the last moment, and the credits featured a voiceover with an interview with President Carter. Pretty refreshing to see President Carter get a positive nod from Hollywood, given who he ultimately lost to in 1980.

11 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Saw Argo last night. What did everyone else think? (Discussion might contain spoilers) (Original Post) Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2013 OP

Loved it! RiffRandell Mar 2013 #1

I thought...gee, I wonder if anyone else noticed that the main spy guy was Latino, Baitball Blogger Mar 2013 #2

I thought it was fast and not boring olddots Mar 2013 #3

I loved it until the end. It was so clear that the hollywood chase scene at the end was mucifer Mar 2013 #4

I agree. Aristus Mar 2013 #5

I understand what you're saying. RiffRandell Mar 2013 #6

Just saw it. Demoiselle Mar 2013 #7

I second the Alan Arkin comment HERVEPA Mar 2013 #10

I Liked It; Glad It Took Best Picture. (nt) Paladin Mar 2013 #8

I thought it was fantastic. bigwillq Mar 2013 #9

I bought the CD book warrprayer Mar 2013 #11

RiffRandell

(5,909 posts)

1. Loved it!

Reply to Tommy_Carcetti (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 09:55 AM

Mar 2013

Ben totally got shunned for a best directer nom-- I even thought he should have gotten a best actor nom-was so glad it won best picture. Great cast, great movie.

Baitball Blogger

(46,730 posts)

2. I thought...gee, I wonder if anyone else noticed that the main spy guy was Latino,

Reply to Tommy_Carcetti (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 10:26 AM

Mar 2013

or Hispanic-American, as he would have been called back then. It makes sense. I saw an early picture of Mendez and he was darker complected back then and would have blended in better in Iran.

And then I read up on the story and realized most of it was Hollywood make-believe. The Canadians were the true heros, which the movie did give them credit. They're the ones who told the group not to go down to the flea market because it wasn't safe.

However, I loved "Argo" the movie. And the truth was that they took tremendous risks to get those people out. So it's all good.

olddots

(10,237 posts)

3. I thought it was fast and not boring

Reply to Tommy_Carcetti (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 10:33 AM

Mar 2013

the editing was good ,the wigs were pretty bad but all in all a solid 8.5 or a 9

mucifer

(23,548 posts)

4. I loved it until the end. It was so clear that the hollywood chase scene at the end was

Reply to Tommy_Carcetti (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 10:34 AM

Mar 2013

totally fabricated. I got home and read up on it and sure enough, everyone just got on the plane and left.

I think not too many people were bothered by this, but it REALLY bugged me.

Aristus

(66,381 posts)

5. I agree.

Reply to mucifer (Reply #4)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 10:39 AM

Mar 2013

I think they could have depicted it the way it really was, and still had the audience riveted. Hollywood respects its audiences less and less every year...

RiffRandell

(5,909 posts)

6. I understand what you're saying.

Reply to mucifer (Reply #4)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 10:49 AM

Mar 2013

Like when the phone was ringing and they barely got to it. I really didn't mind though---I could deal with the fact that they had to make it nail-biting--even though it was fabricated.

I'll tell you what movie ending really scared me---was when the Dr (James McAvoy) in The Last King of Scotland was trying to get on the plane. I googled about it after I watched it and I think his exit in the movie was fabricated, but can't remember for sure.

That was a great movie.

Demoiselle

(6,787 posts)

7. Just saw it.

Reply to Tommy_Carcetti (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 12:21 PM

Mar 2013

I liked it, it kept me very interested. Yeah, I said to my companion as we were watching the end that it looked a little bit like manufactured tension...But that's ok, it's a movie.
I will also watch absolutely anything, including the rankest turkey, if it has Alan Arkin in it.

HERVEPA

(6,107 posts)

10. I second the Alan Arkin comment

Reply to Demoiselle (Reply #7)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 01:35 PM

Mar 2013

I once had an improvisational acting class with him (I'm not an actor) through Omega institute. He and his wife Suzanne were great.

Paladin

(28,264 posts)

8. I Liked It; Glad It Took Best Picture. (nt)

Reply to Tommy_Carcetti (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 12:28 PM

Mar 2013

bigwillq

(72,790 posts)

9. I thought it was fantastic.

Reply to Tommy_Carcetti (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 01:26 PM

Mar 2013

The acting, the writing, the direction. Affleck should have gottten a best director nomination, but at least he won as a producer.

I thought it was good. One of the best films I saw all year.

warrprayer

(4,734 posts)

11. I bought the CD book

Reply to Tommy_Carcetti (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 02:35 PM

Mar 2013

back in '97. Was thrilled they made it a movie!

Reply to this discussion