Movie review: Argo

Even though I knew how it ended--because I remember when it happened--I found Argo a nail-biting, edge-of-the-seat kind of movie. The plot recounts how a handful of Americans managed to escape from the American embassy in Tehran when it was under attack (during the Carter administration)--and find refuge at the home of the Canadian ambassador. Even though they're treated much better than the hostages being held at the embassy, the escapees know they could be captured and killed at any time. The sense of tension is palpable. To sneak them out of the country, the CIA comes up with a plan to pretend that they're part of a film crew working on a sci-fi movie called Argo that will be filmed in Iran. Ben Affleck plays the CIA agent charged with getting the embassy workers out of Tehran. Victor Garber (Sydney's father on Alias), plays the Canadian ambassador who's risking his own neck to help the Americans (when nobody else would). Alan Arkin and John Goodman play the Hollywood team that has to make it look like the fake movie is a real movie. All the starring actors play their parts well--and there are several good cameos as well. Along with the knuckle-biting suspense, what I really liked about the movie is that it starts with an explanation of why the embassy was attacked in the first place. I also liked the inclusion of actual news footage from the time. Argo was one of the best movies I've seen in a long time.