Distributor: Warner
Bros. Pictures
Opening Weekend Box Office:
#2 with $19,458,109
Domestic Box Office
Gross to-date: $75,896,000
Gross Revenue: $89,296,000
Production Budget:
$44.5 million
Director: Ben Affleck
Beyond the directorial accolades that Ben Affleck has earned over the past few years, there were a number of other factors that made Argo a ridiculously-stacked upcoming release, least of all the inclusion of the Academy-Award nominated producer team of Grant Heslov and George Clooney. In terms of sheer star-power, the inclusion of veterans like Alan Arkin and John Goodman immediately added credibility to the project, and even though he may not be top-of-mind as someone associated with the A-List, Bryan Cranston’s work on Breaking Bad has skyrocketed his popularity among mass audiences. However, despite all the positive buzz, the development of Argo wasn’t without its share of controversy, as many questioned the historical validity of the narrative and there were a few eyebrows raised over Affleck’s decision to cast himself in the lead role ahead of a Latino actor (a casting choice in direct contrast to the events on which the film is ultimately based). Still, these gripes didn’t seem to pose too serious a threat, as audience interest in the film was continuing to build and competing releases like Sinister and Here Comes the Boom would appeal to far different demographics and have very little chance of splitting the intended audience. With near-universal critical acclaim stemming from early screenings, Argo seemed poised for a continuously successful theatrical run, one that would set the bar high for the holiday releases that would be hitting theaters in the coming months.
Set during the 1979 Iran hostage
crisis, Argo opens with six members of
the U.S. embassy in Tehran evading capture from violent militants and taking
refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador.
The U.S. State Department brainstorms several scenarios to safely
extract their personnel, but the only proposal with a moderate probability of
success comes from CIA specialist Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck). Mendez proposes the creation of a cover story
in which the escapees pose as a Canadian film crew scouting filming locations,
thereby enabling them to safely escape from the Anti-American mobs overrunning
in the city. In order to make the cover
look real, Mendez and his supervisor Jack O’Donnell (Bryan Cranston) approach
Hollywood make-up artist John Chambers (John Goodman) and legendary film
producer Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) to set up a fake studio and generate press
for the upcoming science fiction film titled “Argo.” Unfortunately, the revolutionaries soon
discover that embassy personnel are unaccounted for, so the clock is ticking for
Mendez to fly-in, provide cover, and safely extract the six innocent lives that
now lie in his hands.
To call Argo
suspenseful is an unbelievable understatement, as the level of emotion and
intensity woven into the narrative by director Ben Affleck is absolutely amazing
and easily the strongest accolade of this newest thriller. The seriousness of the situation faced by the
escapees is palpable, and you can feel the fear that pervades each individual…as
the “film crew” is scouting amongst the Iranian population, don’t be surprised
if the hairs on the back of your neck begin to stand on-end. And, as far as intensity goes, during the
film’s climactic escape, you feel genuine anxiety over the welfare of those
that are on screen…an especially impressive directorial accomplishment when you
consider that the overall outcome has been historically documented for
decades. Plain-and-simple, even though I
have always been a fan of Affleck’s work as an actor, there is no denying that
the breadth of his talent is best showcased when he is behind the camera. And yet, even with such a strong director, Argo boasts remarkably entertaining
writing and acting, making the overall cinematic experience near-perfect.
Make no mistake, Argo is undeniably a dramatic thriller
first-and-foremost, but thanks to clever dialogue and strong acting, you will
also find yourself laughing during the running time, something that represents
a remarkably efficient and exceedingly rare tonal balance. In no way do I intend to downplay the acting
contribution of Ben Affleck, but the truth is that his efforts are largely
overshadowed by the supporting cast, with Bryan Cranston adding to the drama
while Goodman and Arkin provide the laughs.
He may not have a lot of camera time, but Cranston makes the most of
every second, with one scene in particular during the climax sure to send
chills down your spine. In terms of the
humor, maybe it has to do with the fact that I now work in Hollywood, but I
found myself laughing hysterically at the irreverent picture of filmmaking that
Goodman and Arkin help provide, thereby further proving why both men are such
heavyweights within the industry. Adding
all of the aforementioned elements together, Argo represents one of the best films of the year, and is certainly
one that should not be missed by anyone.
Well, critics certainly loved Argo, and according to the numbers, so
did audiences, because Affleck’s newest passion project opened with a strong
$19 million second place standing during a notoriously slow October and continues
to build steam as the theatrical run continues.
Positive word of mouth certainly did its job, because Argo has actually been able to keep its
place among the top three box office entries for the past four weekends, even
taking first place in its third weekend by outperforming new releases like Cloud Atlas and Silent Hill: Revelation 3D.
Against a modest $44.5 million budget, the executives as Warner Bros.
Pictures have to be ecstatic that the October release has already doubled the initial
investment. And, if Ben Affleck starts
earning some well-deserved nominations down the road, don’t be surprised when
the already-considerable levels of audience interest continue to rise and drive
further revenue. In the end, in case
this review hasn’t already convinced you to head to the theater, let me put it
as simply as possible: “Go see Argo…NOW!”
Overall Recommendation: Very High
