Ben Affleck is no stranger to critically acclaimed films, his previous directing efforts Gone Baby Gone and The Town both proving he possesses the abilities behind the camera to forge a whole new direction in his film career. This year, he once again returns to the pinnacle of filmmaking with one of the year's best films, Argo.
Based on a true story, Argo opens with the U.S. embassy in Tehran under attack from militants, resulting in six American personnel turning fugitive in Iran and seeking solace at the Canadian embassy until it is possible for them to return home. Unfortunately such a task is one that even the CIA and American government are experiencing mass difficulty with, until CIA specialist Tony Mendez (Affleck) hatches a plan that may well be unbelievable but could be the only answer to the sextet's safe return home.
That plan involves creating a fake movie named Argo, along with a fake movie company and all the trimmings, and using it as a cover to get the six 'recruited' as part of the cast and then sent back home on a plane. With the help of Hollywood make-up artist John Chambers (John Goodman) and producer Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin), Mendez has the lives of six people in his hands in what is an unbelievably tense series of events.
Argo is pure tension bottled up and unleashed all in one foray of drama unmatched by any this year. Ben Affleck once again shows his prowess behind the camera and also puts in a good turn in the lead role. For all those involved, an incredible cast to behold indeed, it is the comedic double act of John Goodman and Alan Arkin that steal the show, two veterans of film playing hilariously off one another and creating memorable characters.
Blending humour with heart-pounding drama, Affleck showcases to the world he is at his best when in the director's chair and after an impressive two films in the role, he knocks it out of the park with a film that will leave you with lack of nails and have you sitting on the edge of your seat.
Simply incredible and amongst the best of the year, Argo is pure unadulterated cinema at its most dramatic.
Film Rating: 4.5 F's out of 5
London Film Festival has finally waved its last goodbye for yet another year and although it will fill many people with sadness, one can be assured that an abundance of positives came out of the festival film-wise.
As my first proper film festival, LFF was a sheer joy for me to attend when it was possible and I was lucky enough to experience no less than 13 films in 6 days in London. Among those were an eclectic mix of foreign cinema, heartwarming love stories, some rather tough watches and a spellbinding film that rocketed to the pinnacle of my current top ten of the year.
Here are my Top Five films I saw whilst at LFF.
1. Rust and Bone - Sublime, emotional and utterly breathtaking, Rust and Bone is a spectacle of foreign cinema that captivates from start to finish. Perfect performances, cinematography and direction throughout.
2. Robot and Frank - Moving and funny in equal measure, Robot and Frank produces a breathless performance from veteran Frank Langella and impressive vocal work from Peter Sarsgaard.
3. After Lucia - A Mexican film with plenty of clout that will have audiences affected with some disturbing imagery, After Lucia is a powerful and affecting affair. Tessa Ia excels in a challenging lead role.
4. Compliance - Yet another tough watch due to its subject matter, Compliance is a tense encounter that cranks up a notch with every passing moment. Despite its 'based on a true story' tag, the film shocks with a true-to-life depiction that is often unbelievable to the human eye.
5. Sightseers - The follow-up to Ben Wheatley's memorable Kill List is a hilarious affair. Fronted by two superlative leads, Sightseers blends dark humour with horror to create a laugh-a-minute outing that proves Britain still possesses unique talents in the film industry.
Make sure you check out the above films and I'm sure others will have plenty of other recommendations of films they saw - Argo and End Of Watch two films I have heard way too many good things about to miss when released.
Seek out these films when you can and feel free to leave your comments on my choices of the festival.
